Flashback: Carlisle United v Boston United, September 2002

It was the year the Michael Knighton era ended. After the glory of the 1990s and then the bitter and controversial decline, his decade-long reign came to a close when Irish businessman John Courtenay purchased the club.

Brunton Park was in party mood on the opening day of the season, with reinstated manager Roddy Collins back at the helm and a cluster of new signings in the blue shirt.

The road back to good times, though, was never likely to be simple. In front of a bumper crowd, Carlisle lost 3-1 to Hartlepool when a goal from Brian Wake proved their only consolation.

Nine games into the Division Three season and United had made their bed at the wrong end of the table. It was customary, by now, for the Blues to find themselves in that sort of position, and the visit of Boston United early in the campaign pitted two strugglers against each other.

Brian Wake is congratulated after scoring

The Hartlepool goal had been Wake’s first for Carlisle since joining from Tow Law Town. The promising Teessider had been patient for his chance, and was in and out of the side early in the 2002/3 season.

Against Boston, Collins gave the young forward his fourth starting opportunity. It’s safe to say that he took it – and in a manner which proved an omen for even more dramatic things.

Before the game, Collins had made a dramatic statement by making star players Richie Foran, Stuart Whitehead and Lee Andrews available for sale. The manager said United would have to consider offers after home crowds had dropped from that 10,000 opener to the 4,000 mark in quick time.

“I was led to believe supporters would give us a chance to rebuild,” said the Irish boss, who had recently shelled out £100,000 for Derry City defender Darren Kelly.

“We have our hardcore support and we are grateful to them, but we need more people.”

The Boston game, in the event, only brought 3,623 – perhaps in response to a five-game losing league run. Yet they were treated to a goal feast where their former non-league marksman was very much in form.

Boston were no great shakes, manager Neil Thompson having resigned and then gone back on the threat before the game. Though they included the experience of 37-year-old veteran Neil Redfearn, Thompson must have wished he’d followed through on it given the way his side submitted to Collins’ men.

Brendan McGill on the attack

Carlisle set about the Pilgrims like a side strangely unburdened by their recent struggles. On 14 minutes, having survived a Stuart Douglas shot that hit their crossbar, they went ahead when visiting defender Simon Rusk handled outside his box, debutant David Freeman floated over a free-kick, and Wake took advantage of static defending to stab home from six yards.

Wake and Foran proved a good combination and they menaced Thompson’s defence enough to force a second goal. Foran was fouled twice in quick succession, latterly in the box by Steve Burton, and the striker’s resulting penalty had too much on it for Boston keeper Paul Bastock.

United now had the firm initiative and went on to score a rapid third. After Mark Summerbell had chipped the ball into the box, Kelly saw a header saved before Brian Shelley’s cross found its way to Wake.

His finish was true once more – and that wasn’t the end of the first-half scoring.
Boston, first, got one back, when Douglas nipped between left-back Peter Murphy and keeper Peter Keen to reach a through ball, and he crossed for James Cook to head home.

It was, though, only temporary respite, since United – and Wake – were relentless. Foran this time was provider, heading a free-kick down and Wake poaching home his third from four yards.

Carlisle were 4-1 up inside 45 minutes and the only surprise was that the scoring slowed from here. United, after the break, were a sight less impressive, and Boston got another back when Douglas sent a spectacular volley out of Keen’s reach.

Brian Wake with the match ball

A 4-2 victory was, though, much needed – while Wake had his first Football League hat-trick, having delayed a knee operation to help the Blues.

“I can play through it and I’m more than privileged to do that for the gaffer for the things he’s done for me,” said the 20-year-old as he clutched the match ball.

Collins, meanwhile, saw the rewards having blasted his team in the build-up to the game. “I said a few things about what was happening. I have identified the problem and the lads responded really well,” said the manager.

This did not stop Collins lambasting a “diabolical” second-half performance against Boston – and United’s form did not particularly improve. Three defeats followed and, though the Blues managed to embark on an LDV Vans Trophy run all the way to the final, things were seldom bright in the league.

Roddy Collins at Brunton Park

A turbulent season went all the way to the penultimate game. On a Tuesday night in the spring, United faced fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town in a high-stakes game at Gay Meadow.

That night, April 29, 2003, is remembered as Brian Wake’s finest for the Blues: another hat-trick, which clinched a 3-2 win - and safety - at the Shrews’ expense.

The marksman went on to leave United in 2004 and, after spells with Gretna, Scarborough, Hamilton, Morton and Gateshead, he ended his playing days in Scandinavia – where he remains now, as the under-17 coach for Danish side Viborg.

United: Keen, Shelley (Birch), Andrews, Murphy, Kelly, McDonagh (Galloway), Summerbell, McGill, Freeman, Wake (Nixon), Foran. Not used: Naisbitt, Jack.

Boston: Bastock, Hocking (R Weatherstone), Warburton, Ellender, Rusk (Lodge), Cook, Gould, Redfearn, S Weatherstone, Burton (Elding), Douglas.

Crowd: 3,623.