Alan Sheehan fired home a brilliant free-kick as Notts County registered their fourth successive win under Keith Curle to move into the play-off places.

They went in front when on-loan Jonathan Forte headed home from Alan Judge's right-wing cross.

And the visitors' own play-off hopes were further dented six minutes later when Sheehan found the top corner after Lubomir Milachik fouled Forte.

Jon-Paul McGovern hit the side-netting late on with Carlisle's best chance.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I think it was an important day, not for myself, but for the players.

"The last three games I think emotionally - with the adrenaline that's been pumping, the effort, the commitment, the application - it's taken care of itself because the players have been given the license to go and express themselves.

"Today was a big game for them because they knew they were playing against a team that's been up there for a long time in and around the play-offs and pushing for the play-offs. It was a big ask and a big challenge."

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott told BBC Radio Cumbria:

"There's a lot of frustration there, it's a really frustrated dressing room, a really frustrated touchline.

"It's a game we thought was going to be tough, they're on a good run, with a new manager and all that.

"As the game's panned out we've given more, or as much as we've been given, back and we can't find the goal. Then we've conceded two bad goals."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Notts County

  • 17 Nelson
  • 03 Sheehan
  • 04 Edwards
  • 20 Freeman
  • 24 Chilvers (Stewart - 90' )
  • 06 Bencherif
  • 10 Bishop
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 14 Judge
  • 15 Forte (Demontagnac - 87' )
  • 22 Burgess (Mahon - 58' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Burch
  • 23 Harley
  • 35 Stewart
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 31 Mahon

Carlisle United

  • 01 Collin
  • 02 Simek
  • 06 Murphy Booked
  • 25 Michalik Booked
  • 04 McGovern
  • 12 Taiwo Booked (Noble - 67' )
  • 21 Berrett
  • 24 Chantler
  • 10 Madden (Cook - 67' )
  • 13 Zoko
  • 14 Miller

Substitutes

  • 20 Gillespie
  • 29 O'Halloran
  • 07 Welsh
  • 16 Cook
  • 17 Noble
Ref: Carl Berry
Att: 6,451

Match Stats

Shots

10 8

On target

3 2

Corners

0 8

Fouls

10 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:35 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +4:25

Peter Murphy sends in a cross, Mike Edwards makes a clearance.

90:00 +3:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge by Chris Chantler. Direct free kick taken by Neal Bishop.

90:00 +2:51

Centre by Mike Edwards, clearance made by Adam Collin.

90:00 +2:04

A cross is delivered by Jordan Cook, clearance made by Kieron Freeman.

90:00 +1:52

Chris Chantler fouled by Alan Judge, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Noble restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:54 Substitution

Substitution Liam Chilvers goes off and Damion Stewart comes on.

89:30

Jon-Paul McGovern delivers the ball.

86:47 Substitution

Substitution Ishmel Demontagnac on for Jonathan Forte.

86:18

Jon-Paul McGovern produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

85:33

Lee Miller has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

83:22

James Berrett takes the outswinging corner, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.

82:53

Chris Chantler fouled by Alan Judge, the ref awards a free kick. Francois Zoko takes the direct free kick.

81:58

Jonathan Forte produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

81:42

The ball is crossed by Neal Bishop, clearance by Frank Simek.

79:40

Alan Sheehan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jon-Paul McGovern. James Berrett restarts play with the free kick.

78:55

The ball is crossed by Alan Judge, clearance by Lubomir Michalik.

77:04

Jordan Cook takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Chilvers.

72:26

Gavin Mahon concedes a free kick for a foul on Jordan Cook. Peter Murphy has an effort direct from the free kick, save by Stuart Nelson.

70:35

Hamza Bencherif restarts play with the free kick.

70:35 Booking

Booking Peter Murphy shown a yellow card.

69:18

Foul by Peter Murphy on Mike Edwards, free kick awarded.

68:14

Unfair challenge on Neal Bishop by Liam Noble results in a free kick. Liam Chilvers takes the direct free kick.

67:41

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Alan Judge misses to the left of the target.

65:37

Free kick taken by Alan Sheehan.

65:37 Substitution

Substitution (Carlisle) makes a substitution, with Jordan Cook coming on for Patrick Madden.

65:37 Substitution

Substitution Liam Noble on for Tom Taiwo.

65:37 Booking

Booking Tom Taiwo is booked.

65:25

Tom Taiwo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge.

65:06

James Berrett takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Mike Edwards.

64:59

James Berrett crosses the ball, Jeff Hughes manages to make a clearance.

64:28

Outswinging corner taken by James Berrett from the right by-line.

61:58

Lee Miller fouled by Hamza Bencherif, the ref awards a free kick. Peter Murphy takes the free kick.

59:43

Inswinging corner taken by James Berrett, Close range headed effort by Peter Murphy misses to the right of the goal.

57:49 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Mahon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ben Burgess.

57:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Neal Bishop on Jon-Paul McGovern.

57:49

Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.

57:49 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Mahon replaces Ben Burgess.

57:49

Neal Bishop gives away a for an unfair challenge on Jon-Paul McGovern.

56:42

The referee penalises Frank Simek for handball. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

55:58

Tom Taiwo challenges Neal Bishop unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Hamza Bencherif.

52:21

Chris Chantler delivers the ball, save by Stuart Nelson.

45:23

Neal Bishop has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +3:35 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +2:06

Shot from deep inside the area by Patrick Madden clears the bar.

45:00 +1:29

The official flags Jeff Hughes offside. Adam Collin takes the indirect free kick.

45:00 +0:32

Hamza Bencherif delivers the ball, Adam Collin makes a save.

44:15

Unfair challenge on Hamza Bencherif by Tom Taiwo results in a free kick. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

43:57

Hamza Bencherif has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

40:51

Lubomir Michalik challenges Alan Sheehan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

37:58

The assist for the goal came from Jonathan Forte.

37:58 Goal scored

Goal - Alan Sheehan - Notts Co 2 - 0 Carlisle Cross/shot scored by Alan Sheehan. Notts County 2-0 Carlisle.

37:12 Booking

Booking Lubomir Michalik is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

37:00

Foul by Lubomir Michalik on Jonathan Forte, free kick awarded.

32:39

Alan Judge provided the assist for the goal.

32:39 Goal scored

Goal - Jonathan Forte - Notts Co 1 - 0 Carlisle Jonathan Forte grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Notts County 1-0 Carlisle.

31:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Miller by Alan Sheehan. Direct free kick taken by Lubomir Michalik.

29:03

Centre by Jon-Paul McGovern.

26:17

Francois Zoko fouled by Neal Bishop, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by James Berrett, clearance by Alan Judge.

25:44

Alan Sheehan crosses the ball, save by Adam Collin.

24:56

Kieron Freeman challenges Lubomir Michalik unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.

23:23

Centre by Alan Judge.

22:15

The ball is delivered by Alan Sheehan, Jon-Paul McGovern manages to make a clearance.

21:47

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by James Berrett, Hamza Bencherif manages to make a clearance.

21:08

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by James Berrett from the right by-line, Peter Murphy takes a shot. Kieron Freeman gets a block in.

20:32

Neal Bishop produces a drilled right-footed shot from 20 yards. Save made by Adam Collin.

19:29

The ball is sent over by Alan Judge, Frank Simek makes a clearance.

17:57

Hamza Bencherif produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

15:42

Corner taken by James Berrett from the right by-line, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.

15:34

James Berrett crosses the ball, clearance by Jeff Hughes.

15:05

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Chantler from the right by-line, clearance by Hamza Bencherif.

14:58

Centre by Tom Taiwo, Neal Bishop makes a clearance.

11:10

The ball is sent over by Mike Edwards, Hamza Bencherif has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

10:39

The ball is sent over by Alan Sheehan, Peter Murphy makes a clearance.

10:02

Neal Bishop is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Adam Collin.

8:33

Stuart Nelson produces a cross.

8:19

Effort on goal by James Berrett from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

7:10

Jonathan Forte produces a overhead kick left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

0:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Burgess on Lubomir Michalik. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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