Eden Valley Messenger

Penrith Over 35s v Carlisle Zimmers second match of the season

Having being the first team to take points from Carlisle Zimmers this season, Penrith over 35s entertained Zimmers again in successive weeks at the North Lakes pitch writes Kevin Clark.

Penrith got off to a dream start when in the second minute a huge kick down field by Nigel McCombie was misjudged by the visitors defence and Mark Brookes guided the ball past Zimmers keeper Les Armstrong.

Penrith were enjoying much more of the play and Peter Lightburn saw his cross strike the crossbar with Armstrong well beaten.

The hosts should have doubled their lead when a neat ball through found Shaun Forsyth but his effort was easily saved. Zimmers gradually got more into the game with ex professional Derek Townsley being at the centre of almost everything and it was from a corner Townsley headered powerfully past McCombie only to see his effort brilliantly cleared off the line by Wayne Reebanks.

Zimmers were now controlling proceedings and eventually got back into the game on the half hour mark when they were awarded a controversial penalty that Townsley converted to level things up.

This seemed to deflate Penrith and it was the visitors who continued to control the game and only some good defending prevented Zimmers going in front, with half time approaching the Carlisle side went in front when that man Townsley found himself in acres of space in the penalty area and he superbly lifted the ball over McCombie to give them a 2-1 advantage at half time.

Penrith started the second half well and the game was beginning to open up with both sides creating good chances, both sides used their substitutes regularly as the game was being played at a frantic pace and it was two of Penrith’s subs who combined for the hosts equaliser as Martin Currie played in Danny Irving who finished well from ten yards.

With an hour gone this gave Penrith a much needed boost and both sides threw everything forward in search of another goal, Zimmers came closest but Nigel McCombie pulled off a brave save at the feet of Telford, the visitors then went in front again when some poor defensive play let in Wayne Newton and he smashed an unstoppable volley into the bottom of the net with 20 minutes to go.

Penrith regrouped again and as the game entered the final quarter of an hour Penrith were themselves awarded a penalty that Martin Currie coolly converted to level the game at 3-3.

In what was becoming a pulsating game of football with both sides creating several good chances and with only eight minutes remaining the hosts eventually got their noses in front when a corner was met by a thumping header from close range from Mark Brookes.

Zimmers refused to lie down and poured men forward in search of an equaliser, the Penrith side could hardly get out of their own half with a barrage of shots on goal and crosses into the box and with only 3 minutes remaining a melee in the box fell kindly to James Brennan and he fired low past the Penrith keeper to make it 4-4.

Both sides took take great credit as they produced a superb game on a very tight and slippery pitch, this was the fourth game between both teams in 2 seasons and they cannot be separated having seen all four games end up in draws.

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