Callum O’Hare nets late winner as Carlisle edge Swindon

Posted Sunday, March 10, 2019 by PA

On-loan Aston Villa midfielder Callum O’Hare’s late winner saw Carlisle end a five-game winless run as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Swindon.

Hallam Hope’s first-half strike was cancelled out by a Kyle Bennett free-kick, but O’Hare struck to halt Swindon’s four-game unbeaten run.

Both sides struggled to come to terms with the gusty conditions in the early stages, but it was Carlisle who made the breakthrough in the 13th minute.

Jamie Devitt played the ball into the box for Hope to gather and he hit a low shot which took a deflection, wrong footing Swindon goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux as it skidded inside the right-hand post.

Swindon went for a quick response with a header by Tom Broadbent, but it was too close to Adam Collin and the goalkeeper was able to tip the ball over the bar.

Collin’s handling was again put to the test by a powerful Bennett 20-yard effort which he got right behind to gather cleanly.

The Robins drew level six minutes before the break after Keshi Anderson, just on as a substitute, was fouled a couple of yards outside the area by Gary Liddle.

Bennett coolly curled the resulting free-kick over the defensive wall, beating Collin’s despairing attempt to get a hand to it.

Swindon had the better of the possession after the break and forced the home side to defend deep.

Kaiyne Woolery forced a diving save from Collin and was Swindon’s danger man again with a cut back from the by-line which Carlisle were glad to clear after a scramble in the six-yard box.

However, the home side weathered the storm and went in front in the 80th minute when O’Hare fired home after Nathan Thomas’s initial shot was blocked.

There was a last-minute scare for Carlisle when Swindon’s mass protest over a handball claim in the box was turned down but they held on for maximum points.