Remembering the bizarre goal that won Carlisle United's last home game against Halifax Town

It's the Shaymen's first visit to Brunton Park for 16 years.

Okay - Halifax are in a different guise now, since FC Halifax is the newly-formed club which replaced the previous Halifax Town AFC in 2008 after the latter went bust.

But it's still far too tempting to resist revisiting that last encounter with United's west Yorkshire opponents back in 2005.

It featured one of the most bizarre winning goals Brunton Park has seen - thanks to a future Premier League Cumbrian, a young Brazilian...and a goalkeeper taking leave of his senses.

The unorthodox moment unfolded in the closing minutes of a Conference clash between promotion-chasing United and play-off hopefuls Halifax.

It was 0-0 going into the final minute, by which point Blues boss Paul Simpson had sent on young Cumbrian striker Glenn Murray along with Wigan loanee Magno Vieira in pursuit of a goal.

Simmo cannot have anticipated quite how the two subs would go on to combine to matchwinning effect.

In those dying seconds, Murray chased the ball into the box and left a trivial nudge on Ian Dunbavin as the Halifax keeper scooped it up.

This irritated the visiting No1, who aimed a little kick at Murray, who turned and gestured as much to referee Bob Pollock.

After some shoving and verbal to-and-fro, the official then waved the game on - a signal somehow misconstrued by Dunbavin, who walked out of his box, ball still in hand, to remonstrate further.

The ref instantly blew for handball and Dunbavin let go of the ball.

Magno Vieira pictured in action in the 2005 game against Halifax (photo: Stewart Blair)

Murray immediately siezed it, spotted Vieira arriving to his right, rolled the free-kick into his path, and the young Brazilian duly slotted the winner past a discombobulated Dunbavin and into the empty net.

Most of the 5,474 Brunton Park crowd were suddenly in joyous disbelief.

The winning goal kept United on course for promotion, which they eventually sealed via the play-offs at the Britannia Stadium.

It would later be featured on TV shows compiling weird and wonderful goals - and the scorer himself would never forget the madcap moment.

Vieira, speaking in the book Bolts From The Blues last year, said: "As soon as the keeper walked out of the box with the ball, I knew straight away.

"I think Glenn had made him lose his focus. I was close to the referee and saw his reaction. I was screaming to Glenn. Derek Holmes was on his left, but I think Glenn's eyes were on me, because I shouted at him."

Of his dramatic finish, he said: "Luckily it was on my right foot and not my left, otherwise it would have gone to the corner flag...

"After that it was just ecstasy. I could not believe it. I looked back to see if the goal was allowed. 'Man, this actually just happened here'. I remember running to the fans and players were jumping up."

Vieira, now 36 and coaching in New Zealand, also recalled being reminded about the unusual goal many years later.

"I was living in London, watching a show about 20 memorable moments in football, and it just came on the TV!" said the player who was born in Brasilia and was coached in an academy run by Brazil legend Jairzinho before moving tele England with Wigan.

"I said to my brother, 'This is my goal here!' He said, 'Shut up'. 'No, seriously...'

"We were just laughing. You could see what a weird moment it was - such an odd goal to decide such an important game."

"It was definitely a good moment for us," added Vieira, who spoke fondly about his time with United, "although not too much for the goalkeeper of Halifax [Dunbavin is now a goalkeeping coach with Liverpool].

"I've seen it a few times now and even show it to my kids. It's pretty cool. It wasn't a screamer from 35 yards, but I'm glad it's something people keep talking about."