One of the many things missing from this strange, quarantined season is the joy of a packed away end for one of those Carlisle United nights you instantly know will stay long in the memory.
When it comes to the Blues’ recent era there are many possible examples, a classic case certainly being the trip to Macclesfield 15 years ago for a Football League Trophy Northern Final second leg which is hardly done justice by the word 'epic'.
There were, at Moss Rose 2,198 boisterous Cumbrians - nearly 800 more away fans than Macclesfield supporters - and to say their nerves and vocal chords were given a good working over would, again, be an understatement.
United rarely do things the calm way, least of all in the latter stages of this competition, and it soon became apparent that a 2-1 Carlisle first leg lead was scarcely even the start of the story.
Paul Simpson’s Blues were the leading force in League Two but by the 28th minute had been rocked not once but twice by Brian Horton’s spirited home side. It took just three minutes for Andy Teague to wipe out United’s advantage with a header, and a while later Matty McNeil struck from close range to put Macclesfield in front in the tie.
Carlisle’s hopes of smooth progress to a Millennium Stadium final now looked highly insecure. Macclesfield had started the game with serious gusto and were value for their sudden advantage. Those many Cumbrians behind the goal were not used to seeing Simmo’s men reeling in this way.
What they were accustomed to was the sight of this United rising up and taking back control. It was, after all, one of the most robust and characterful Blues sides in recent memory and, thankfully, there was a familiar boldness in the way they eventually came back into things.
A response required several key contributions. High among them was a magnificent close-range double save from keeper Keiren Westwood, who kept out Paul Harsley with brilliant defiance. Moments later, Carlisle launched an attack down the right, Adam Murray finding Karl Hawley. The prolific striker had not long been crowned League Two’s player of the year and showed exactly why in the way he stealthily attacked Macclesfield’s back line before drilling in a ruthless low shot which took a deflection past keeper Alan Fettis for Hawley's 23rd of the season.
The tie was now level both in scoreline and away goals, and it teed up a tense second half which saw Carlisle as the superior force. Simon Grand replaced the injured Peter Murphy at the back, while on the left wing, Simon Hackney burst into life, drawing desperate fouls from the home rearguard.
Mark Bullock went close for the hosts, Hawley in the mix for United, and then extra time, when things grew even more urgent: Danny Livesey almost netting for United, Danny Whitaker wasting a chance for Macc, and then, after a 113th minute corner, sub Brendan McGill cracking the bar for Carlisle and Grand pouncing to sweep it home.
The 2,000+ erupted. United were ahead and, with the additional away goal, had left Macclesfield in need of two. They got one right at the end, through Kevin Townson, but the final whistle confirmed Carlisle’s progress, 4-4 on aggregate, away goals taking them to the final.
There was relief and elation written on the faces of United’s white-shirted, muddy heroes, while Simpson was keen to salute the hordes who came to cheer his side. “Our fans were absolutely different class,” the manager said. “They put the Macclesfield supporters to shame. All their fans could do was abuse me from behind the dugout, but ours sang and supported us all the way.”
The joy of the moment also gripped Fred Story, the owner behind United’s revival. “It’s a dream. I’m absolutely thrilled,” he said, Carlisle now both topping the fourth tier and at a cup final less than two years after relegation to the Conference.
The Southern Final saw Swansea evade Colchester, and the League One side went on to edge United 2-1 in the Cardiff final, Adebayo Akinfenwa getting the winner after Adam Murray had cancelled out Lee Trundle’s brilliant opener.
The Blues’ run, though, remains another telling experience from a highly memorable time. It demonstrated the spirit on and off the pitch which carried them to that season’s title, laid the foundations for a stretch of League One football, and established many of those players as long-term supporters’ heroes.
Hopefully, one day soon, a packed, heaving away end can enjoy such heady experiences again.
Macclesfield: Fettis, Morley, Swailes, Sandwith, McIntyre, Teague (Beresford), Harsley, Bullock, Whitaker, Miles (Townson), McNeil (Smart). Not used: Lee, Navarro.
United: Westwood, Arnison, Aranalde, Livesey, Murphy (Grand), Billy, A Murray, Lumsdon, Hackney (McGill), Hawley, Holmes (G Murray). Not used: Williams, Rivers.
Crowd: 3,598.
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