Part 36 of our weekly series charting Carlisle United's historic 1973/74 season...
Remember those conspiracy stories, which have surfaced several times in recent seasons, about Carlisle United in some way “not wanting” promotion, and on some mysterious level trying to sabotage a good campaign from the inside?
Nothing new, it turns out. The same talk was going around in the spring of 1974 even as the Blues were clinging onto realistic hopes of playing in England’s top flight for the very first time.
Some doubters, though, were convincing themselves that Alan Ashman’s side would find some way of tripping themselves up, by design rather than accident. The rumour-mongering led the club’s hierarchy to brief manager Ashman to make a public statement about United’s determination to push for Division Two glory.
“The directors met last night and they discussed the talk which has been circulating that Carlisle don’t want promotion,” Ashman said.
“They have instructed me quite firmly to say that these stories are completely without foundation. It’s ridiculous to suggest we don’t want to go up.
“How can anyone suggest that the players are willing to sacrifice their promotion chance? The lads at this club are the same as those at any other club and they want to play in the top division and try and better themselves.”
United, having made their intentions clear, now prepared for a trip to Bristol City with seven games left to achieve the unprecedented. There were injury concerns for Ashman with three key players missing training.
John Gorman had an abdominal strain, Les O’Neill had jarred his ankle and Ray Train had a knee problem. It left Ashman weighing up how far to push the trio, considering the busy Easter programme was not far ahead.
United had very much ignited their challenge with a 5-1 thrashing of Swindon Town last time out, even if the 6,544 crowd was lower than hoped at Brunton Park. “But we are playing for the hard core supporters, and they are the most important people for us,” added Ashman.
The Blues’ supporters’ club put on a bus to the west country as United anticipated their first game of a busy 21-day run-in. As for the team, O’Neill and Gorman missed out at Ashton Gate and that meant a full league debut for a man who would go on to become one of Carlisle’s most enduring players.
Mike McCartney, who had joined the Blues on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion and had been signed by Ashman at the Baggies, had been limited to substitute appearances so far, but was thrown into things at Bristol as United looked to chalk up another vital win.
Alan Dicks’ City were in the bottom half but ultimately set United an obdurate test which the Cumbrians could not pass. Ashman’s side played plenty of neat passing football but could not hurt the hosts – who managed to damage the Blues in the process.
Early on McCartney, breaking forward to link with Frank Clarke, shot wide at a time the hosts, who were goalless in four games, were offering little in attack. The visitors were then denied a penalty when Bill Green seemed to be shoved in the box, but referee Jack Taylor – who would go on to take charge of the 1974 World cup final – ignored Carlisle’s appeals.
City made good on their reprieve and, by half-time, were a goal to the good. Paul Cheesley, the hosts’ most lively and dangerous player, supplied it with a clinical and powerful header which gave United keeper Allan Ross little chance.
United looked to respond after the break with Tot Winstanley and Dennis Martin to the fore with chances. Bobby Owen was then denied an equaliser by an impressive save from Ray Cashley.
Carlisle continued to have the better of general play even though Cheesley passed up a good chance to make it two. Eventually, though, the hosts did double their advantage, Don Gillies beating Ross from a narrow angle.
It was enough to kill off United’s hopes, Ashman’s side failing to muster anything in the closing stages, the fifth-placed Cumbrians left frustrated – and still no closer to making a decisive late statement about their promotion chances.
“It was a disappointing display,” said trainer Dick Young. “We gave away two bad goals and didn’t create enough. I didn’t think Bristol City looked a particularly impressive side.
“It’s a pity some of the south-country critics who come and watch us judge us on this sort of game, because they don’t see the sort of stuff we can play up here. There was no comparison between some of the football we have been playing and what they saw on Saturday.”
Rivals, as it happened, failed to take advantage of United’s defeat, leaving the race as close as before. Up next for the Cumbrians were two games in two days over Easter, as they aimed to crack things once and for all – and put those pessimists in their place for good.
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