Part 39 of our weekly series charting Carlisle United's historic 1973/74 season...
Into the final week of the season, and Carlisle United were five days – then possibly a few more – from destiny. The Division Two promotion race was still very much a closely-fought thing and a place in history beckoned the Blues…but only if they refused to blink.
Alan Ashman’s side were on the brink of the automatic places but a loss of nerve in two closing games against Oxford United and Aston Villa would end the dream. Complicating matters too was the presence of others in the chase, such as Leyton Orient, whose final game of the season against Villa would come six days after United’s 1973/74 campaign was wrapped up.
Before thinking of sweating on that circumstance, a critical midweek contest at the Manor Ground awaited United, whose 4-0 defeat at Blackpool in their previous game had hit their hopes. Both Blackpool and Orient were marginally ahead of Carlisle in the table and the equations were stark.
“We have got to try and win our remaining games and hope that, in the meantime, some of the other leading contenders drop points,” said Ashman.
That quest was not helped by the loss of captain Bill Green to suspension for the last two games. Tot Winstanley was, though, an able deputy at centre-half. Green travelled with the squad to lend his support, while Frank Clarke and Chris Balderstone had to undergo fitness tests before the Oxford game, which had been rearranged after a waterlogged postponement earlier in the season.
When the contest eventually unfolded it went down as one of those occasions when United held it together when they most needed to. There was inevitable tension about the game but Carlisle still put together some fine, flowing football against an Oxford side in defensive mode amid their pursuit of a result to help clinch survival.
United, despite the quality of their play, had to be patient for their chances. The in-form Joe Laidlaw came close late in the first half while Carlisle survived a near miss in their own six-yard box, before resuming their chase of the all-important result.
Les O’Neill, Bobby Owen, Dennis Martin and Clarke were prominent with opportunities, yet things had reached the 87th minute without the decisive moment…but then it came.
Balderstone, stepping up from defence, sent a well-flighted free-kick into the Oxford box and when it was turned across the goalmouth, Owen was there to crack home a volley.
It was enough for an utterly crucial 1-0 win which was backed up by some resolute Winstanley defending. United’s top-flight hopes were alive – and their result set up a showstopper against Villa at home.
The midweek Evening News & Star set the scene. Above an image of ground staff Robin Dalton and Ted Swainson preparing the Brunton Park pitch, the headline FIGHT TO THE FINISH accompanied a front page article setting out the situation. United needed to win, and hope Blackpool and Orient would stumble against Sunderland and Cardiff City respectively.
If both those rivals lost and United won, the Blues were up. If Carlisle won but the others picked up results…more complicated. “Let’s hope the fans really roll up to cheer us on,” declared marksman Clarke.
Hopes for another near 20,000 crowd were not, in the end, vindicated. Yet the 12,494 who attended can say they were there for arguably the most significant league game in Carlisle United’s history.
How terrifically they rose to the occasion: not with their silkiest performance, but certainly with one of character and decisive finishing. Things got truly under way in the 11th minute when John Gorman’s streak down the left was followed by a cross which Owen nodded on for Laidlaw, who burst through to head home.
It was the perfect start, and one United safeguarded through the valiant goalkeeping of Allan Ross, who made some brave saves under Villa pressure. Pat McMahon gave Carlisle a scare when he hit the post, and then the persistent visitors struck the crossbar, Ross again saving United by tipping Ray Graydon’s effort onto the woodwork.
United mopped their brows, and looked to seal things. Martin missed a chance midway through the second half, but come the 66th minute the Blues had the second goal they craved: converted clinically by the head of Clarke, after a delivery from Martin.
It was enough. Carlisle held their position to full-time, having done all they could to set up the possibility of promotion. Blackpool fell away, losing at Sunderland, but the efforts of Orient in securing a 1-1 draw at Cardiff meant United could not celebrate…yet.
It came down to the following Friday, and Orient versus Villa at Brisbane Road. If the Londoners won, Carlisle would be dashed at the last. If they drew or lost, the Blues would be a top-flight football club for the first time.
“There’s just one word to describe the way I feel right now – helpless,” admitted Ashman. Several players made plans to attend the game in the capital, while Ashman and others prepared to be in Carlisle for the night of Friday, May 3.
Agony or ecstasy awaited – six days, and 90 historic minutes away…
READ LAST WEEK'S 1973/74 FEATURE HERE
DON'T MISS THE NEWS & STAR AND THE CUMBERLAND NEWS NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 3, AS WE MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CARLISLE UNITED'S HISTORIC PROMOTION TO THE TOP FLIGHT
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