Wyke and Gilliead fire Carlisle to victory over Accrington
Charlie Wyke and Alex Gilliead scored first-half goals to give Carlisle a 2-0 win over fellow League Two play-off hopefuls Accrington.
Carlisle always held the upper hand despite an early blow when skipper Michael Raynes was stretchered off with a head injury sustained as he challenged for a corner delivered by Gillead.
The initial play was scrappy, with the early for the injury a factor, although Carlisle made the most of a 28th-minute free-kick on the left which Gilliead played short to Brandon Comley. The on-loan QPR midfield man lofted the ball towards the far post from where Mark Ellis nodded back to Wyke who slotted home right-footed from eight yards.
Stanley's first chance fell to Shay McCartan who found Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie fully alert to block his effort at close range.
Carlisle's second goal came in the 38th minute when substitute Macaulay Gillesphey, Jabo Ibehre and Wyke were all involved. Wyke's initial effort found its way across to Gilliead who had time and space to drill his shot home from 12 yards.
There was almost another goal for the Cumbrians in first-half injury time when a long-range cross from Alex McQueen deceived Ross Etheridge as it looped over the goalkeeper but came back off the woodwork.
Etheridge denied Hallam Hope after the Carlisle forward threatened to end a move he began himself with a sweeping cross-field run, while Stanley's Billy Kee had a reasonable second-half penalty claim rejected when he went down under Gillespie's dive after the goalkeeper had fumbled.
Carlisle sit 12th after the win, just three points outside the play-offs, with Accrington in eighth place.
Source: PA
