Could there have been a better demonstration of why Carlisle United were ready for seriously high places in English football than going to Anfield, home of the champions, and leaving heroically unscathed?
The Blues have been to Liverpool’s stadium five times in their first-team history, most recently in 2015’s League Cup. That saw a superbly valiant performance which had echoes of the Cumbrians’ visit in January 1974, when Alan Ashman’s team gave Bill Shankly’s giants a proper contest in the FA Cup.
United, back then, were an aspiring Second Division side with designs on the top flight. Liverpool were the dominant side in the country, boasting stars like Kevin Keegan, John Toshack, Ray Clemence, Tommy Smith and Phil Thompson.
The fourth round draw, Carlisle having already accounted for Sunderland in the competition, could not have thrown up a more formidable or exciting tie.
An obvious sub-plot was that of the iconic Shankly coming up against the team he had led in his formative managerial years. Ashman’s team were on a seven-game unbeaten run and with a reputation for playing an admired brand of second-tier football.
Along with an expectant travelling support, they knew they would require all of this and more when confronting the mighty Reds.
United received a generous welcome from the Kop when they ran out in front of the 47,211 crowd and lined up in the centre circle to salute the crowd. The traditional booming welcome also greeted the home side – before Carlisle set about their daunting task.
They did so in the face of a stiff wind as well as the brilliant players in red – and it was Ashman’s visitors who made the first running.
Attacking the Kop end, they mounted a promising attack but a through-ball from Les O’Neill to Joe Laidlaw was intercepted by the offside flag. From there, a more expected pattern developed: one which required Carlisle’s men in the rearguard to be totally resolute.
It proved one of those days when they were very much on their mettle. Goalkeeper Allan Ross dealt with early crosses while Bill Green put in a timely challenge to deny Toshack. Liverpool looked to attack down the wings, Phil Boersma motoring down the left in the absence of Steve Heighway, but the classy Chris Balderstone, in a sweeper role, was often ideally positioned to cut out the service to Liverpool’s frontmen.
When the ball did reach Keegan, United’s defensive work was tight and attentive, even though the Blues’ own forays were limited by the bite of such as Tommy Smith and Larry Lloyd.
Carlisle struggled for midfield space although, from a small handful of breaks, Laidlaw tested Clemence’s concentration, and Frank Clarke later enjoyed a better chance but was crowded out as he sliced his shot into the Kop.
At the other end, Ross was agile to tip away a fierce Toshack attempt before John Gorman made a goalline intervention to deny Lloyd. It was Carlisle at their most defiant, with Balderstone’s composure a particular feature of their performance.
At times Carlisle put together some impressive pieces of interplay but the threat from Liverpool was always clear. Green kept them intact with another goalline clearance when Toshack seemed set to score, while referee Jack Taylor had words for both players as they needled one another.
Such was the keenness of the contest. United reached half-time level – and then re-emerged to face even more pressure from Shankly’s men. The second half was played almost entirely in their half and it was a great tribute to Carlisle’s determination that they did not buckle.
Home fans felt the opening goal was inevitable but, with Clarke doing unselfish work up front and his team-mates busying themselves in defence, a solid blue barrier remained. Gorman’s tussle with Ian Callaghan was a fascinating part of the contest and Carlisle’s left-back did himself plenty of credit with his performance.
Driving rain made handling more difficult but Ross remained steadfast. He watched an Alec Lindsay drive whistle into the Kop, while later United survived a frantic goalmouth scramble.
Peter Cormack was in the queue of home players willing to try their luck, but he shot wide, while the game also became inadvertently bruising for Gorman, who collided with team-mate Green when both jumped for a high ball and had to leave the pitch with a head injury (while Green also lost a tooth in the incident).
The Scot bravely returned in the 78th minute and United continued to hold on with barely a single attacking outlet of their own. Ross remained a poised figure between the posts and Balderstone relieved pressure with some well-weighed contributions.
Come the closing stages, and a booking for Smith for bringing down Ray Train, it was clear that Carlisle were not for shifting. They duly closed out a 0-0 draw and lapped up praise from supporters and other observers for their courageous display.
‘UNITED DEFY THE ANFIELD GIANTS’ was the headline in the Cumberland Evening News’ Sport Special, and no wonder: Carlisle had, after all, become the first side to prevent Liverpool scoring at Anfield all season.
It teed up a mouthwatering replay three days later which brought Shankly and his stars to Cumbria. In front of 21,262, they got the job done second time around at Brunton Park, thanks to goals from Boersma and Toshack.
It sent Liverpool on their way to a successful FA Cup campaign, the Reds going on to beat Newcastle at Wembley to win the competition. By then, Ashman’s United had hit their own magnificent heights: promotion to the First Division for their only time in their history.
It was an achievement described by none other than Shankly as “the greatest feat in the history of the game.”
Liverpool: Clemence, Smith, Lindsay, Thompson, Lloyd, Hughes, Cormack, Boersma, Callaghan, Keegan, Toshack. Sub: Hall.
Carlisle: Ross, Carr, Gorman, Balderstone, Green, O’Neill, Train, Martin, Laidlaw, Owen, Clarke. Sub: Tiler.
Crowd: 47,211.
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