It’s no surprise that Carlisle United vs Plymouth Argyle on May 8, 1999, is remembered for Jimmy Glass. But Carlisle’s other players had a significant role in creating the backdrop for the goalkeeper’s late drama.

Although United had struggled all season, they had never been in the relegation slot at the foot of the table - until the final week of the campaign.

That Wednesday night bottom club Scarborough played Plymouth at home, and won 3-0.

This result saw Scarborough leapfrog Carlisle to leave the Cumbrians bottom of the league and facing the plunge into non-league oblivion.

The following Saturday, Carlisle were at home to Plymouth.

United had to win that match, and hope that Scarborough failed to win their home game against Peterborough.

At Brunton Park, Plymouth scored early in the second half to go 1-0 up and leave Carlisle on the brink.

Just after the hour, Carlisle captain David Brightwell lashed in the equaliser from 25 yards.

Scarborough’s match finished 1-1.

Carlisle still had to find a winning goal. In the dying seconds they won a corner.

It was floated into the Plymouth penalty area by Graham Anthony.

Here, Brightwell and Anthony recall their memories of football’s greatest escape.

Brightwell says of the relegation battle Carlisle found themselves in during the season’s final weeks: “It was a difficult time, to find ourselves in that situation. And we were struggling to get out of it.

“I didn’t think we were ever going to go down until the last week of the season when Plymouth went to Scarborough, and Scarborough battered them 3-0.

“I had to go for a walk that night. I thought we were in trouble. It was out of our hands now.”

“At one stage everyone thought Scarborough were dead and buried,” says Anthony.

“We maybe took our foot off the gas a bit and thought we would be alright. We got sucked right in.

“Non-league football was part-time back then. So that would be us basically out of a job.”

Both men remember Carlisle manager Nigel Pearson doing his best to keep the mood upbeat during training in the remainder of that week.

Brightwell recalls Jimmy Glass doing the same. “It was quite relaxed, the Thursday and Friday. All that week Glassy never played in goal once. He thought he was a centre-forward. He was running round like an idiot.”

“Nigel got our spirits up in training,” says Anthony. “We just had to go out and get a result.”

Brightwell adds: “The problem we had was, if Scarborough won, we were down. But we had to give ourselves the best chance. A draw was no good.”

On match day Pearson asked the players to arrive at Brunton Park earlier than usual.

“Nige got us in about half 12, one o’clock, in the players’ lounge,” Brightwell says. “We had a little chat, then he said ‘If you want a drink, have a drink. Whatever you think will help you play better.’ We’re all looking at each other thinking, I don’t want to go first.”

Some players had a drink then, and from a bottle of brandy in the changing room. It didn’t seem to help.

“It was a flat game,” says Brightwell. “It was 0-0 at half time. The crowd were nervous. Then Plymouth scored straight after half time.

“And then I scored. But we didn’t really create a lot of chances after that. It didn’t mean anything at the time because we had to get the second one. The crowd were great but you could sense a bit of nervousness.

“We got a corner. I said to the ref ‘How long?’ He said ‘This is it. This is your last chance.’”

Anthony prepared to take the corner at the Waterworks End. “I was taking my time. I was thinking ‘Just get it in the middle.’ Put it in the box and let them fight for it.”

“I didn’t know Glassy had come up,” says Brightwell. “The corner comes in: a good ball from Graham. Dobes [Scott Dobie] attacked it really well. Great header. The keeper saves it. Then I saw someone in red... I thought ‘Who the hell’s that?’”