Carlisle United 3
Harte (pens, 56 & 72), Price (61)

Bristol Rovers 1
Heffernan (57)

Rovers were beaten 3-1 at Carlisle this afternoon in somewhat controversial circumstances.

On level terms at the break, following a first half in which neither side were able to get to grips with a difficult surface and a tricky wind, they were reduced to ten men after Jeff

Hughes was sent off for an innocuous challenge on Adam Clayton who theatrically flung himself to the ground after he had got past the defender.

The resulting spot kick was converted by Ian Harte, but Paul Heffernan put Rovers on level terms almost immediately.

Jason Price added a second for the home side, before they were awarded another penalty. Steve Elliott beat Price to the ball, only to see the striker fall to the ground and referee Neil Swarbrick deemed it to be another penalty.

Harte converted his second spot kick of the afternoon and it was game over as far as Rovers were concerned.

That said, Rovers didn't really play as well as they have in recent weeks, and didn't deserve to take all three points. But, until that first penalty, they looked comfortable enough to earn themselves a share of the spoils.

Manager Paul Trollope was without two regular members of his squad at Brunton Park.

Byron Anthony was suspended after picking up his tenth booking of the season last Saturday, while Danny Coles was also missing following the birth of his first child, Phoenix, yesterday afternoon.

Carl Regan came in at right back for Anthony, while Daniel Jones moved to centre half, and Jeff Hughes to left back.

Andy Williams started the match, on the right of midfield, with Dominic Blizzard switching to the left.

That meant there was a very youthful look to the bench, and young Ollie Clarke was drafted into the squad for the first time this season.

Rhys Evans, at 28, was the senior statesman on the bench, which showed an average age of just over 20 years and eight months.

The home side created an early opportunity through Adam Clayton, whose shot from some 25 yards out was well wide of the target.

That chance, and two bookings for the home side, Paul Thirlwell and Matty Robson, was the only real action in a slow opening to the game.

Richard Keogh got forward and fired a low shot wide of the upright before Mikkel Andersen did well to block a cross by Clayton following a good run down the left by the midfielder.

Andersen comfortably saved a free kick taken by Ian Harte, leaping spectacularly to touch the ball over the bar and then watched an Andy Marshall shot drift wide of his goal.

Dominic Blzzard did well to get into the Carlisle area but his final touch let him down and his run came to nothing, while at the other end Marshall again fired wide of the target.

Hughes got forward in the final minute of the half and hit a shot that was well wide of goal. It was Rovers first real scoring opportunity of a half in which they were seldom troubled at the back, but created very little going forward.

The home side began the second half with more urgency and Keogh hit an effort wide while a shot from Marshall hit Scott Dobie and went straight into the arms of a grateful Andersen.

Shortly after a shot from Price had been deflected behind by Elliott, Carlisle were awarded their first penalty of the afternoon. While there was contact by Hughes on Clayton, the midfielder still got past his marker before inexplicably throwing himself to the floor.

It was enough to convince the assistant referee, who flagged for a spot kick, and convinced Mr Swarbrick that Hughes should be red carded.

Harte despatched the spot kick with some aplomb, but Rovers were level within a minute as Jo Kuffour threaded a delightful ball through to Paul Heffernan who slipped the ball past home keeper Adam Collin with ease.

Within four minutes Carlisle were in front again. Clayton's ferocious angled drive was beaten away by Andersen but only to the far post, where Price had the simple task of knocking the ball over the line.

Worse was to follow, as Carlisle were awarded a second spot kick when Elliott appeared to win the ball ahead of Price, and both men went to ground. The penalty award was met by silence and even Price looked apologetic as he got to his feet. Strangely, there was no card for Elliott, as there had been for Hughes, but it mattered little as Harte again beat Andersen from twelve yards.

As the ten men of Rovers tired, Carlisle almost scored again. Only Andersen prevented a fourth, when he saved from Price, while Clayton hit a shot high over the bar.

Heffernan did fire an ambitious 25 yard volley high and wide at the other end, but the home side finished in the ascendancy and Marshall again hit a shot wide in the final minute of the game.

Team: Mikkel Andersen, Carl Regan, Steve Elliott, Daniel Jones, Jeff Hughes, Andy Williams (Charlie Reece, 67), Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Dominic Blizzard (Ben Swallow, 72), Paul Heffernan, Jo Kuffour

Substitutes: Charlie Clough, Eliot Richards, Mark Cooper, Ollie Clarke, Rhys Evans

Yellow card - Campbell

Red card - Hughes

Carlisle: Adam Collin, Richard Keogh, Ian Harte, Tom Aldred, Evan Horwood, Paul Thirlwell, Tom Taiwo, Adam Clayton, Ben Marshall, Matty Robson (Scott Dobie, 18), (Ryan Bowman, (87), Jason Price (Gary Madine, )

Substitutes: Peter Murphy, Graham Kavanagh, Tony Kane, Lenny Pidgeley

Yellow cards - Thirlwell, Robson, Harte

Referee: Mr ND Swarbrick

Attendance: 5,407