Carlisle United’s golden age of cup performances can confidently be said to have occurred at the end of the 1960s and turn of the 1970s.
In late ’69, after all, they came within less than 45 minutes of reaching Wembley in the League Cup. In February 1970 they reached the FA Cup fifth round and a record 27,500 home crowd against Middlesbrough.
The following campaign, 1970/71, and the aspiring Cumbrians were at it again. Ian MacFarlane’s Second Division side pulled off a superb League Cup victory over an illustrious Manchester City, while in the FA Cup, further progress awaited.
A convincing 3-0 third round victory at Southend United featured two goals from their spearhead, Bob Hatton. He had also accounted for City – and his exploits in the FA Cup set up an exciting fourth round tie for the Blues.
The draw brought Tottenham Hotspur to Brunton Park, midway through a season when United were competing at the top end of the second tier, while Bill Nicholson’s Spurs were bound for a third-placed finish in the First Division.
Hatton had 16 goals in all competitions by the time Nicholson’s team headed to Cumbria, boasting the talents of such as Pat Jennings, Steve Perryman, Alan Mullery, Alan Gilzean and Martin Peters.
United’s marksman had another memorable occasion in his sights – while others had their eyes on Hatton. Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday were said to be tracking the striker, but MacFarlane said: “I am not in a position to sell any of my players.”
While Carlisle spent several days training in Skinburness, before winding down by playing golf at Powfoot, Spurs, after making the journey by train, prepared on match day with a lunch of fillet steak, tea and toast in the Crown & Mitre Hotel, Mullery one of the few players to venture out into Carlisle for a pre-game stroll.
Come kick-off, 25,400 were inside Brunton Park for another big Blues cup occasion. Carlisle were without two key men in Frank Barton and Len Kinsella, but were undeterred as they made a bold and aggressive start.
As, it should be said, did Tottenham, with Mullery cautioned early for a weighty challenge on United’s Chris Balderstone. The great goalkeeper Jennings had cause to complain about objects being thrown from behind his goal, while the early missiles aimed by both sides on the pitch were repelled.
Joe Kinnear stubbed his toe when attempting a 20-yard shot for Spurs, and home keeper Allan Ross denied Perryman. At the other end, a United free-kick gave Jennings some difficulty, before Hatton almost set something up.
Carlisle grew into things and displayed few nerves. Bobby Owen tested Jennings, whose counterpart Ross then brilliantly saved a Martin Chivers header.
It was to and fro, an entertaining and urgent affair – and Carlisle then raised the roof in the 26th minute. They opened the scoring attractively as Owen slipped the ball to Dennis Martin, and he tucked it beneath the advancing Jennings.
It almost prompted the Blues to a second goal, Owen going close, but an affronted Spurs then hit back six minutes before the break, Gilzean finishing from close range and Carlisle appeals for offside dismissed.
As great sides will, Tottenham then made good on their recovery. Having trailed, they were soon into the lead when 1966 World Cup winner Martin Peters forced the ball in via a rebound off Ross.
Yet United responded brilliantly at the start of the second half. Martin was the provider this time and Owen beat Jennings to the ball to toe home the equaliser.
Brunton Park was aflame again, MacFarlane’s team defiant and riding their luck. Peters hit the post before, for United, the classy Balderstone’s free-kick was defended by Spurs.
The game remained very much in the balance, but in the end it was the visitors who made their decisive move. It was the 79th minute when left winger Jimmy Neighbour cut inside and dodged tackles before firing past Ross.
That deflated United, who were unable to mount another comeback. Tottenham saw home the 3-2 victory and escaped Brunton Park knowing they had faced a true test.
“Carlisle are a fine side,” said Nicholson, with Mullery equally relieved at the outcome. “We would have been happy with a draw. Carlisle played well.”
MacFarlane was proud of his side, adding: “The lads gave me everything. I knew we were going to play well. And Spurs’ first goal was definitely offside.”
The winners made it as far as the quarter-finals, before going down to Liverpool, while Carlisle returned to a league campaign which resulted in a fourth-placed finish: their second-highest in the Football League to date.
Hatton, although tamed by Tottenham, ended the season with 24 in all competitions, and headed, the following season, towards a move to Birmingham City. Carlisle then headed to an instant FA Cup reunion with Spurs, drawing 1-1 at White Hart Lane in 1971/72’s third round, before a 3-1 replay defeat back at Brunton Park.
United: Ross, Davis, Gorman, Ternent, Winstanley, Sutton, Murray, Martin, Owen, Hatton, Balderstone. Sub: Hemstead.
Tottenham: Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Mullery, Naylor, Beal, Gilzean, Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Neighbour. Sub: Pearce.
Crowd: 25,400.
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