Carlisle United vs Macclesfield Town. Sky Bet League Two.
Brunton ParkAttendance4,884.
Saturday 29 December 2018 20:17, UK
Jerry Yates struck late on as play-off chasing Carlisle secured a fourth consecutive win with a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Macclesfield.
After Scott Wilson had given Town an early lead with his third goal in two games, Hallam Hope hit back for the home side before the break.
The visitors looked set for a draw until Yates, on loan from Rotherham, popped up from close range to register his fifth goal in the last four matches.
The win moved Carlisle up to eighth in the League Two table, one point off the play-offs.
The Silkmen had the Carlisle defence rocking as they made a lively start, taking a second-minute lead through a fine individual effort by Wilson.
His turn just inside the area created space for a shot which was expertly curled past Adam Collin in the Carlisle goal.
After scoring 10 goals in their two previous home games, Carlisle were on the receiving end and glad to scramble away a cross by Tyrone Marsh which almost provided the opportunity for a second goal for Wilson.
Macclesfield goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara produced a series of outstanding saves as Carlisle began exerting strong pressure.
O'Hara denied Jamie Devitt twice and pulled off a timely full-length diving stop to keep out a Gary Liddle header.
However, there was nothing O'Hara could do about Hope's shot, cutting in from the left after exchanging passes with Devitt, that brought Carlisle level in the 44th minute.
Town continued to defy their lowly league position with Marsh firing a good chance over and Koby Arthur testing Collin from just inside the area.
But it was Carlisle who snatched an 89th-minute winner when Yates just managed to touch home a Danny Grainger cross from the left.
