The League Cup second-round draw of 1972/3 was a first for Carlisle United, but it was hardly a venture into the unknown considering the calibre of their opponents: Liverpool.
The first-ever meeting between the clubs was set up some 50 years ago, a tie which allowed upwardly-mobile Carlisle to test themselves against some of the very best in the land.
Liverpool were led by Bill Shankly, whose great managerial career had its formative days at Brunton Park, and their side was strewn with illustrious names. This was not the modern era of squad rotation and under-21s in the League Cup at big clubs. Those in the visiting side to face the Blues in Cumbria included Kevin Keegan, John Toshack, Emlyn Hughes, Tommy Smith, Larry Lloyd, Steve Heighway and Ian Callaghan.
Some test. Yet Carlisle, under the returning Alan Ashman, were moulding a team capable of reaching their own great heights. Their Second Division line-up included the likes of Allan Ross, John Gorman, Chris Balderstone, Bobby Owen, Ray Train, Dennis Martin – and, in his final weeks at the club, the mercurial Stan Bowles.
Ashman, who had replaced Ian MacFarlane for a second spell in charge, had also brought in Wales international full-back Steve Derrett from Cardiff City, and an injury to Derek Hemstead put the new signing in line for a daunting debut against Shankly’s stars.
United’s preparation revealed few secrets. “The reports on Liverpool confirm what we know already – that they are a cracking good team,” said Ashman. “But, like us, they have lost their last two matches…”
Carlisle were indeed yet to hit their straps in 1972/3, but Liverpool’s visit, and an accompanying 16,257 crowd, inspired them to a fine and gutsy Brunton Park performance.
Ashman’s side did their level best to find rare gaps and opportunities through the red wall. Balderstone stamped his class on things in the opening stages, almost threading Owen through for an early chance.
Later, Barrovian star Hughes had to be at his best to intercept a Carlisle attack constructed by Martin and Joe Laidlaw.
The visitors, as one might expect, had the better of possession in midfield and, in the later stages of the first half, began to turn the screw. A piledriver from Hughes was a warning flare, before Toshack and Heighway went close.
United’s resistance then broke shortly before the break, when Ross parried a Callaghan drive and Keegan – who had been an ambitious Blues target during his Scunthorpe United days – pounced to turn home the rebound from six yards.
This appeared to underline a general superiority which many observers might have expected to grow. But Carlisle stayed with it, limited Liverpool’s chances to kill them off after the break as Stan Ternent put in a consummate defensive performance – and eventually hit back.
As United’s own optimism regrew, Liverpool’s reserve keeper Frank Lane was called into action to deny Owen. Les O’Neill, a half-time replacement for Bowles who was said to be suffering from a stomach upset, then made his dramatic statement.
The busy midfielder started the 70th minute move and then finished it, running onto Balderstone’s pass and beating Lane with enviable quality from a testing angle.
It was a tribute to United’s doggedness – and dramatically earned them a replay at Anfield.
Their first visit to Liverpool’s ground then saw a more expected exhibition of the Merseysiders’ class, but only after another fighting effort from Ashman’s men.
Two goals in two first-half minutes put Shankly’s side in command: Keegan heading home an Alec Lindsay corner, and Phil Boersma – on for Toshack – pouncing on a Ross and Ternent tangle.
Yet Carlisle retained their passing principles and found a way back when Owen swept a shot past Ray Clemence.
The forward might then have brought the Blues level, only to chip both Clemence and crossbar when well placed, Laidlaw having earlier been denied by the home No1.
Thoughts of a memorable Cumbrian raid were then killed by three merciless Anfield goals. Chris Lawler trickled a shot past Ross, Boersma powered another home and Heighway capped a 5-1 win with a late solo effort.
The outcome did not particularly mirror the game or United’s competent contribution to it, but the final analysis saw them out of the League Cup.
Ashman was, in general, buoyed by their showing. “There were one or two worried faces in the Liverpool camp,” he said of the stage when the Blues appeared ready to overturn their mighty hosts.
United resumed a league campaign which saw Bowles sold to QPR and the team finishing an underwhelming 18th. Greater glories would come, though, the following season – while Liverpool, despite exiting the League Cup at the fifth round stage to Tottenham, regained the First Division title in 1972/3.
Carlisle have had eight subsequent meetings with Liverpool since that initial encounter, the most recent coming in 2015 – also in the League Cup – where another 1-1 draw was followed by an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat at Anfield.
TEAMS
(first game)
United: Ross, Derrett, Gorman, Laidlaw, Winstanley, Ternent, Train, Martin, Owen, Bowles (O’Neill), Balderstone.
Liverpool: Lane, Lawler, Hughes, Smith, Lloyd, Cormack, Keegan, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan. Not used: Thompson.
Crowd: 16,257
(replay)
Liverpool: Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Cormack, Heighway, Toshack (Boersma), Callaghan.
United: Ross, Derrett, Gorman, Laidlaw, Winstanley, Ternent, Train, Martin, Owen, O’Neill, Balderstone. Not used: Delgado.
Crowd: 22,128.
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