Mark Cullen completes comeback as Port Vale edge Carlisle

Posted Sunday, November 17, 2019 by PA

Mark Cullen scored a late winner as Port Vale claimed a narrow 2-1 comeback victory over Carlisle, having fallen behind after just 20 seconds at Vale Park.

Ryan Loft gave the visitors – who sacked manager Steven Pressley on Tuesday – an early lead before David Worrall and substitute Cullen’s second-half strikes moved Vale up to eighth in Sky Bet League Two.

Carlisle, under caretaker boss Gavin Skelton, made the best-possible start when Loft met Gethin Jones’ ball at the back post and tapped it past Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown.

They nearly doubled their lead after four minutes when Loft’s cross fell to Mike Jones on the edge of the box, but his thunderbolt went just wide of the post.

At the other end, Jake Taylor’s 25-yard effort cannoned off the woodwork and Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin made a stunning close-range save to keep out Ritchie Bennett.

The Valiants equalised on the hour when Worrall met James Gibbons’ pass and poked the ball home.

And the hosts won it 13 minutes later when Carlisle defender Byron Webster completely missed Gibbons’ ball into the box and Cullen was there to divert it home.