Goals -
0-1 Crowell (50 pen)
1-1 Gray (72)
2-1 Lumsdon (81)
For the first time since we first came up against the Cumbrians we have lost both games to them in the same season, and this despite taking the lead at BruntonPark.
United had the better of the first half, and it took three top draw saves from Michael Ingham to keep the scoreline goalless at the interval and allow Denis Smith to make a couple of changes, one enforced.
In the end though, a couple of contentious refereeing decisions, one when he didn't send off Chris Lumsdon for denying a goalscoring opportunity and then the second when awarding a rather soft penalty when Karl Hawley went down as Ingham challenged for the ball. You guessed it - Lumsdon was the penalty taker!
A hairy moment for the defence after just four minutes saw the ball bounce around the edge of the Wrexham box with former Leeds player Michael Bridges threatening to get a shot away before the reds shirts around him finally smothered the danger.
A half clearance was picked up by Karl Hawley who squared to Brendan McGill and his shot was headed back to his keeper Ingham from close range.
On 15 minutes, Matt Crowell's long range shot spun up in the air of Zigor Aranalde dropped over the keeper, struck his post and bounced back into the play for Murphy to hack clear for a corner
Wrexham's defending left something to be desired as Smith allowed McGill to get passed him and cross towards Hawley, but Bayliss intercepted and turned the ball only inches wide of his near post!
From a free kick awarded on 21 minutes when Roche pulled Hawley's shirt, McEvilly cleared the initial cross and when it sat up for Aranalde he fired shot just pass the other post.
The pressure continued thanks to a foul throw by Bayliss, who then conceded a needless free kick, from which McGill headed on and Hawley headed over from five yards.
The 15-goal Hawley passed up a great chance in 30 minutes when Bridges set the striker clear for a run at Ingham, the keeper stood his ground and won the mind games as the shot was struck straight at the keeper.
Ingham denied the same player two minutes later when Hawley turned and fired low, but the Irishman turned it away for a corner. The pressure was maintained and as a cross was swung in front of the Wrexham goal centre half Danny Livesey fired in a headed that the former Carlisle keeper palmed up and over his crossbar.
The Reds had the odd venture forward at this stage and Walters saw a flashing header beat Keiren Westwood, but the young keeper was able to turn and chase after the ball before it went out of play.
Bayliss conceded another free kick, when he bumped Hawley on the edge of the box, six minutes before the break, but Lumsdon's shot took a slight deflection for a corner, as United continued pushing forward.
The sides swapped yellow cards when Arnison was booked for bringing down Walters and as the free kick was cleared, Roche brought down Bridges as he threatened to break clear.
Walters won a throw in a he sprinted up field and from the throw he took the ball over his right shoulder before unleashing a shot that Westwood was happy to palm down before picking up.
Denis Smith made a double change at the break, bringing on Simon Spender and Andy Holt to fill the wing back positions, with Smith and McEvilly stepping down. Roche moving into midfield with mark Jones pushing up alongside Walters.
The second half started with controversy as Ferguson was brought down by Lumsdon in the box, who received only a yellow card for his sins!
After the dust had settled Matt Crowell kept his cool to send Westwood the wrong way and put his side in front.
Through the mayhem, Walters was free some 25-yards out, but with the keeper coming off his line he fired straight into the youngsters' hand with a second goal beckoning!
United hit back on 60 minutes when Lawrence was pushed off the ball and their cross reached McGill, who at the second attempt threaded a low shot that Ingham did well to get down to deal with.
Holt showed his worth as play swung to the other end and he crossed into the six-yard box where Walters battled with Livsey, but lost out to the United defender.
Former Hearts and Cowdenbeath striker Derek Holmes was brought on for Aranalde with 22 minutes left, as Carlisle boss Paul Simpson went 4-3-3.
United drew level from a corner on 72 minutes when Ingham failed to deal with a corner from the right, the ball was tipped onto to Kevin Gray whose header seemed to come back off the crossbar, but the goal was given.
A good sweeping moving saw Wrexham bring the ball out of defence and when Crowell sent in a 30-yard cross Jones popped up to hit a first time effort that struck the side netting of Westwood's goal.
With nine minutes left Hawley took a tumble in the box and referee Moss was only too happy to even things up with a ridiculously soft penalty as the back post. Then to add injury to insult, up stepped Chris Lumsdon, who should have been dismissed for his foul when conceding the original penalty, to send Ingham the wrong way.
A last throw of the dice by Smith saw Foy brought on for goalscorer Crowell.
After looking out of it in the first half, we pushed their noses in front after the break, but a couple of strange decisions from referee Moss changed the course of the match and with it the outcome.
Carlisle: Kieren Westwood, Peter Murphy, Chris Billy, Danny Livesey, Kevin Gray, Brendan McGill, Chris Lumsdon, Karl Hawley, Paul Arnison, Zigor Aranalde (Derek Holmes 68), Michael Bridges.
Subs: Anthony Williams, Adam Murray, Simon Grand, Raphael Nade.
Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Dave Bayliss, Danny Williams, Dennis Lawrence, Lee Roche, Alex Smith (Simon Spender 46), Darren Ferguson, Mark Jones, Matt Crowell (Robbie Foy 86), Jon Walters, Lee McEvilly (Andy Holt 46).
Subs: Michael Jones, Mike Williams.
Referee: J Moss
Attendance: 6,219
Away:
Bookings -
Carlisle: Arnison (42, foul), Lumsdon (50, foul), Murphy (50, dissent)
Wrexham: Roche (43, foul), Bayliss (87, dissent)
