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Williamson on goalscorers and Blues' Trophy win
Mike Williamson saluted his goalscorers and the “intent” of his Carlisle United team after their comeback win at Morecambe.
Second-half strikes by 17-year-old Freddie O’Donoghue and fit-again Ben Williams earned a 2-1 victory in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game.
United had fallen behind to a goal from ex-Blues striker Hallam Hope but impressed with their fightback.
It was a landmark moment for young striker O’Donoghue, who is set to be back in action tonight in Carlisle’s FA Youth Cup second round tie at Barnsley.
His maiden goal at senior level came moments after he came off the bench at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.
“Freddie has been brilliant in terms of his energy, his enthusiasm, his honesty – he really has,” said head coach Williamson.
“So I'm really pleased for him. I think he just needs to use it as a taste of what his potential is and know that regardless of what situation you're in, when you're given that opportunity, you run your socks off and you get on the end of things like that and you get your reward.
“I’m really, really pleased for him, and all the other lads that played as well. There were a lot of good performances.”
Williams, who came off the bench at half-time for his first appearance in two months after a knee injury, gave an impressive display which he capped with his first United goal.
“We were looking at playing him 30 [minutes] but then asked the question about 45 and he wanted to do it, which is good,” said the Blues head coach.
“And he looked strong – you saw the amount of high-speed running he did. He caused a lot of problems and topped that up with the goal. It shows that he's got that intent and desire and he's also got the intelligence.”
Although United were already out of the Trophy having lost their previous two northern group C games, they finished their fixtures in this season’s competition on a positive note.
And the result means the Blues have won back-to-back games for the first time since March 2023.
Harry Lewis makes a second-half save at Morecambe (Image: Richard Parkes)
Williamson said he and his coaches accepted responsibility for the way United conceded, when Harry Lewis’ pass was intercepted and Hope scored.
But he said the way Carlisle dealt with that setback was crucial.
“It’s pleasing to see the lads didn't change their habits,” added Williamson.
“I thought in the first half there was a lot of good things, although with our final third entries, we couldn't capitalise on it. I thought Morecambe defended well.
“But then in the second half, as the game got a bit stretched and players started to tire, we ended up getting more opportunities. And I thought all the subs, and the young lads, were fantastic. They really did come on and impact the game.
“But so did everyone from the start. We had a lot of lads who were lacking minutes. And that's got a real shift in, so there are a lot of positives to take.”
Carlisle trailed at the break to Hope’s goal as the Blues played themselves into trouble.
“It happens - it's up to us to say that the intention and the bravery were really good and the detail…we'll look back and we'll be able to build off that,” Williamson said.
“When we want to induce a press, we want to induce it to isolate the back line and then when we do that, that's where we've got to play.
“It’s nothing on H [Lewis] – that's all on us. We're happy that, after the mistake, our habits didn't change and we wanted to keep looking for the spare man, the free player, and then ultimately, by sticking to our principles, we end up getting the result.”
Williamson said that the way Carlisle reinforced the way they felt they could get ahead in the game was key to the result.
“Obviously the performances have been up and down, but what we're trying to get to is a point of resilience in our habits,” he said.
“Ultimately, when you keep consistent habits, we feel as though with the quality we've got and the lads' energy, we'll get the breakthrough.
“The problem comes when we're not getting success with it and the habits change. So, what was really pleasing was the fact that we had the setback and we still carried on pushing and probing, and we were picking up second balls and we created moments.
“Then you need that bit of quality that we had to get the breakthrough. But I thought it backed up a good performance.”
