Saints crush sorry Carlisle

Southampton handed glory in Johnstone's Paint Trophy final

Last updated: 28th March 2010  

Rickie Lambert Carlisle Southampton JPT Wembley

Lambert: Opened the scoring

Southampton JPT Wembley

Southampton: JPT winners
Man of the Match: Rickie Lambert was a constant threat from set pieces, both on the ball and as a target man, with a goal and three assists to his name.

Goal of the match: Michail Antonio grabbed Southampton's fourth with superb control and a vicious half-volley, leaving Carlisle no chance of a comeback.

Moment of the match: Peter Murphy inexplicably handled the ball inside the penalty area to set Southampton on their way after just a quarter of an hour.

Battle of the match: Southampton's Dan Harding got the better of Carlisle's Matty Robson down the flank but it was an intriguing head-to-head.

Talking points: Can Southampton build on this success for a late play-off surge? Can Carlisle pick themselves up to finish the season strongly?

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Southampton cruised to victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final as sorry Carlisle pressed the self-destruct button at Wembley.

Alan Pardew's side were gifted their first three goals by the Cumbrians, who lost their way badly on their big day out at the home of football.

Defender Peter Murphy set the tone in the 15th minute as he inexplicably handled Papa Waigo's cross in the box, allowing Rickie Lambert to step up and smash home his 31st of the season from the penalty spot.

Greg Abbott then looked on aghast as his defence stood and watched as Lambert flicked on Michail Antonio's long throw for Adam Lallana to head home unmarked from just six yards out before the break.

There was no improvement after the interval, with Evan Horwood adding to the horror show as he failed to deal with Lambert's cross, and although Adam Collin made a splendid save from Antonio, Waigo was following up to nod home.

Antonio scored the goal of the game on the hour mark, with Lambert again too tough for the Carlisle defence, with his flick pounced on by the teenager, who controlled on his thigh before firing a low shot home from just outside the area.

The Cumbrians' travelling contingent in the impressive attendance of 73,476 were finally given something to cheer in the closing moments as Gary Madine glanced beyond Kelvin Davis from Ian Harte's curling free-kick.

Southampton's first participation in this competition may illustrate just how far they have fallen since their top-flight days, but 44,000 supporters made the trip from the South Coast to see the 2003 FA Cup finalists take on their League One rivals.

Revenge

The 10-point penalty for going into administration has left Saints off the play-off pace and they are just one spot above Carlisle - but the teams are leagues apart in every other sense.

Murphy handed them the lead in the 15th minute when he stuck out an arm to whip the ball from the head of Lambert.

The defender was fortunate to escape with a booking but Lambert exacted revenge from the penalty spot with Collin getting a hand to his powerful shot but unable to keep it out.

Carlisle had their moments in the first half, not least when Matty Robson's cross was headed onto the top of the crossbar by Harte.

However, it was Southampton who grabbed a second goal two minutes before half-time. Lambert flicked on Antonio's long throw and Lallana was left with the simple task of nodding the ball past Collin.

Any hopes of a Cumbrian comeback were crushed four minutes into the second half when Horwood made a hash of Lambert's cross.

Collin managed to keep out Antonio's shot but Senegalese striker Waigo was on hand to nod the rebound into an empty net.

On-loan Reading winger Antonio crashed in the fourth from the edge of the area on the hour, before Carlisle substitute Madine gave the blue half of Wembley something to cheer with a late header.