In the latest edition of U's Watch we take a look at U's centre back Pat Baldwin and goalkeeper Mark Cousins.

Pat Baldwin made his first start in the league this season after Paul Reid failed to recover from his groin injury, which ruled him out of Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat a Sunderland.

Mark Cousins continued to deputise between the sticks in the absence of Ben Williams, who has returned to training following the ankle injury he picked up in the Essex Senior Cup final victory over Hornchurch.

Pat was barking orders from the back early on, organising the U's defence as if he had never been away, although on 12 minutes he escaped a caution after pulling back Carlisle forward Francios Zoko after the Ivororian had turned the U's centre back in the centre circle.

Cousins' first real involvement came 17 minutes into the game after Baldwin shielded the ball back to the keeper, for him to clear long down the pitch.

At this stage the game was fairly even with neither keepers nor defences duly tested.

21 minutes up and a miscommunication between Pat and Magnus nearly allowed Gary Madine to get to the ball but Magnus' pace allowed him to get to the ball to clear for a throw, as the U's continue to pressurise their opponents.

Baldwin's long ball found the head of Bond but his cushioned header went just beyond Henderson and away for a throw on.

On the half hour mark, the U's took the lead through David Mooney, a quickly taken corner to Brian Wilson allowed him to cross for Mooney to header home from six yards, as the chant 'We are top the league' arrived shortly afterwards from the South Stand.

Pat, committed as ever, got to the ball before Zoko to poke the ball into the path of David Perkins, but the tireless midfielder's pass went astray as he tried to find Tierney on the left.

It was a quiet half for both Baldwin and Cousins but from a U's point of view that was a good thing!

Two minutes into the second half and Cousins collected a comfortable cross into his arms, under no pressure at all and dispatched the ball long down field towards Mooney.

Five minutes in and Baldwin makes a great sliding challenge to halt Carlisle in their tracks, but this soon ended up with Craig Curran whose shot skipped up in front of Cousins but he was able to gather the ball at the first attempt.

Cousins tested again but nothing to worry the keeper after a header straight into his hands after a Carlisle corner.

It was turning out to be a much busier half for Pat and Mark who were both standing up well against the increasing Carlisle pressure as the U's struggled to create any decent chances.

On 59 minutes, Cousins made yet another save after Carlisle's Taiwo shot directly at the U's keeper.

Baldwin was as ever very vocal at the back organising the U's as every set piece and goal kick.

On the hour, Cousins well and truly made up for his mistakes at Sunderland with a wonderful save to tip the ball over the bar from Gary Madine's header as he kept Carlisle at bay as the visitors piled on the pressure against their hosts.

The defence as a whole was dealing with Carlisle threat comfortably as chances became few and far between for both sides, resulting in changes in personnel for both teams as Beevers replaced U's midfielder David Perkins after yet another terrific performance.

Cousins did extremely well to gather a loose ball after Zoko's effort rattled the U's crossbar.

Shortly after Anthony Wordsworth was replaced with some fresh legs as Kayode Odejayi was bought on to liven things up for the U's.

It was another quiet spell for both Baldwin and Cousins, as down the other end the U's had a goal disallowed for offside after Ian Henderson's neat finish.

But the U's were undone deep into stoppage time as the pressure finally tolled as Paul Thirlwell drilled home past Mark Cousins from six yards to deny the U's all three points and the chance to go top.

All the hard work was undone as Carlisle deservedly went back home with a hard earned point.

Article by James Kemble