Other than an FA Cup win in 1933, Cheltenham have never tasted victory at Brunton Park. They have gone 11 Football League encounters without success at Carlisle’s home – not that it has all been plain sailing for the Blues when the Robins are in town.

It was, in fact, a draw against the men from Gloucestershire that pushed United towards their lowest point: relegation to non-league for one and only season.

It remains the most significant meeting of these two sides since Cheltenham became a League club in 1999. The day that Carlisle sank into the Conference came five years later, on the penultimate weekend of a remarkable campaign.

It had, many fans will recall, started wretchedly, a hopeless early run seeing owner John Courtenay sack his countryman Roddy Collins. Veteran summer signing Paul Simpson took the managerial reins but a run of 12 straight defeats left the Blues miles adrift, with just five points from their first 21 games.

Relegation seemed as certain as night following day. Then came an unlikely winter turnaround, as some of the experienced signings made by Simpson started taking effect: Andy Preece, Paul Arnison, Kevin Gray, Tom Cowan, Kevin Henderson, plus a loanee at the other end of the experience scale, Walsall prodigy Matty Fryatt.

A pre-Christmas win against Torquay sparked a dramatic resurgence. Carlisle-born Simpson led them to 10 wins from their next 22 outings, an injury-time Matty Glennon penalty save at Mansfield keeping their impossible survival hopes alive going into the penultimate weekend.

Simpson’s run had restored goodwill even as United’s prospects remained difficult. Victory against Cheltenham would have given them a chance of taking their fight to the final day, provided all their rivals did not pick up a point. A draw or defeat, though, and it was curtains, given they were five points adrift of third-bottom Macclesfield.

A snag, as Simpson prepared for the dramatic day, was the absence of defender Gray, suspended after the Blues were unable to get a red card at Leyton Orient overturned. Peter Murphy shifted to defence from midfield and, with a certain Jimmy Glass in the crowd, a 9,524 crowd looked for new saviours.

To start with, it seemed they might be found. A positive United start, featuring attempts by Craig Farrell and Mark Boyd, led to an eighth-minute lead. Richie Foran’s cross was flicked back across goal by Preece, and winger Brendan McGill arrived to score from close range.

If anything, though, this glimpse at extending their run even further increased tension. United retreated into their shells and Cheltenham, managed by John Ward – who had assisted Simpson early in his tenure before leaving for Whaddon Road – came back, Damian Spencer and Shane Duff going close.

After the break, Carlisle went in search of a killer second. On 52 minutes, player-manager Simpson himself had a golden chance, fed by McGill on the break but denied by keeper Shane Higgs.

Anxiety again grew as Ward’s side - which included current boss Michael Duff - put the Blues on the back foot. Paul Brayson was denied by Glennon and Brian Shelley blocked Spencer’s attempt. Simpson tried to turn the tide by introducing Will McDonagh and Kelvin Langmead, and Cowan heroically thwarted sub Kayode Odejayi.

With nine minutes to go, though, Odejayi scored the goal that will always have a bleak place in United’s history, the big Robins striker meeting a corner and seeing his header bounce in off the crossbar.

Brunton Park was stunned into near silence with the realisation Carlisle’s 76-year Football League stay was now on life support. United could not force a winner in the closing stages and ref Paul Danson’s full-time whistle brought some fans onto the pitch, consoling Simpson’s players after the 1-1 draw and trying to come to terms with their new, lowered status.

“The results in the first 21 games is the reason for it,” said Simpson of their relegation. “The spirit, effort and determination since Christmas has been magnificent and it is something we need to continue.”

Memorably, they did. Simpson rejected overtures from Blackpool’s Owen Oyston while the summer of 2004 also saw the Blues change hands, Courtenay selling to Fred Story. That late-season momentum then continued as United bounced back at the first attempt, Murphy heading a play-off winner against Stevenage before Simpson led them to the League Two title in 2006: a superb return of the good times after such a heartbreaking fall.

United: Glennon, Shelley, Cowan, Andrews, Murphy, Boyd (McDonagh), Simpson, McGill, Farrell (Langmead), Preece, Foran (Arnison). Not used: Duffield, Rundle.

Cheltenham: Higgs, Wilson, M Duff, S Duff, Victory, Brayson (Odejayi), Bird, Finnigan, McCann, Fyfe (Forsyth), Spencer. Not used: Book, Griffin, Connolly.

Crowd: 9,524