Jamie Devitt earns Carlisle a point against Colchester

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 by PA

Carlisle hit back with a second-half free-kick from in-form Jamie Devitt to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Colchester.

Courtney Senior gave U’s a first-half lead and although the Cumbrians came back after the break it was a result which all but ended their Sky Bet League Two play-off hopes.

Carlisle twice tried their luck from long range in the early stages with Kelvin Etuhu’s low drive skidding just the wrong side of the left-hand post and Devitt’s 25-yard shot flying over the angle of post and bar.

U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker’s brilliance kept the scores level when he produced an instinctive save from Cole Stockton’s close-range header.

Walker came to Colchester’s rescue again soon after, diving across his line to parry a thumping 20-yard drive from Etuhu.

Colchester grabbed the lead a minute before the break after a counter-attack left Kurtis Guthrie one on one with Jack Bonham. Although the goalkeeper got a hand to Guthrie’s shot, the ball rolled free to Senior who had the simple job of slotting home.

Carlisle went close to equalising when Devitt’s free-kick clipped the bar and went over.

The midfielder had better luck with another free-kick from 25 yards in the 79th minute after substitute Reggie Lambe had been tripped. Devitt curled the ball right footed into the top-left corner of the net for his third goal in as many games.

Mikael Mandron nearly snatched all three points for U’s late on with a shot which thumped against the post with Bonham beaten.