Carlisle United versus Tranmere Rovers is an FA Cup tie with a little history - and where the Blues are concerned, comfortably the most memorable meeting came back in 1997.
Back then it was a third round encounter rather than this weekend’s first round fayre. It was, at a time of exciting Blues progress, one of those classic and just a bit boisterous nights under the Brunton Park lights.
Fourth-tier United were paired with second-tier Tranmere having disposed of Shepshed Dynamo and Darlington in the first two rounds. The visit of the Wirral club brought their illustrious player-boss John Aldridge in opposition to a Carlisle side on the up in Division Three.
It was Mervyn Day’s first full season in charge after the previous campaign’s relegation and departure of Mick Wadsworth to Norwich. Former assistant Day had retained many of the players who had led Carlisle to the Division Three title in 1995 and then back down the following year, though a new campaign in the basement division was enhanced by certain new sources.
One was the club’s youth department, from which the likes of Rory Delap, Lee Peacock, Will Varty and the precocious Matt Jansen had emerged as first-team players. Another was the overseas market, which chairman Michael Knighton had entered to sign Stephane Pounewatchy, the French centre-half.
The enigmatic Pounewatchy became both influential player and cult figure in a three-man back line next to Dean Walling and Varty. Another addition, Owen Archdeacon, added pedigree at left wing-back while the sale of David Reeves to Preston was offset by the permanent return of former loan striker Allan Smart from Deepdale.
This tweaked, rejigged United cruised into high-flying form and by the time some severe winter weather intervened, they were well placed at the head of Division Three, unbeaten in 12 games.
Tranmere finally visited Brunton Park on January 14 after the original scheduled game had to be postponed, and they arrived in mid-table in Division One, 38-year-old Aldridge with 16 goals to his name by the time of the Carlisle game.
The former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star passed a fitness test in order to play, and his Tranmere made a brisk start, Paul Cook shooting just wide and Walling denying John Morrissey.
Carlisle, though, warmed up after two weeks without a game and duly applied pressure of their own through Walling – a familiar threat at corners – and Steve Hayward, who went close with a free-kick.
The Blues then opened the scoring on the half-hour mark. Warren Aspinall spotted Peacock’s diagonal run into space down the right and his cross picked out Archdeacon in space. The Scot was able to control and then pick his spot with a measured finish across former Carlisle keeper Eric Nixon.
The goal teed up an urgent contest which saw Blues No1 Tony Caig superbly deny Liam O’Brien, with Paul Conway almost heading a United second. Aldridge then passed up a good chance to level after the break, lobbing wide after a rare Pounewatchy slip...and from there things only got worse for the former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star.
Tranmere’s frustration grew as the clock ticked down, with Varty, Walling and the statuesque Pounewatchy outstanding at the United back, and an outburst towards a linesman saw Aldridge summoned by ref David Laws with 15 minutes to go.
Eventually the official reached for his cards - and produced a straight red to Aldridge.
The roar which greeted the dismissal was almost as loud as that which had met Archdeacon’s goal. Much barracking followed from the Paddock as an incensed Aldridge stormed down the tunnel.
Carlisle saw a famous 1-0 victory through and secured a place in the Fourth Round for the first time since 1981 – and a stage they have not passed since – to host top-flight Sheffield Wednesday.
Day professed to be “shattered” after watching such an epic tie, while matchwinner Archdeacon said: “We were a bit rusty at first, but we deserved to win. On your home pitch you have to fancy your chances.”
The Premier League pedigree of Sheffield Wednesday eventually proved too much, the Owls earning a 2-0 win at Brunton Park in front of 16,104. Day’s team, though, still went on to deliver double glory, going back up in the third automatic promotion place, and claiming a first ever Wembley victory, thanks to penalty shoot-out success over Colchester in the Auto-Windscreens Shield.
As for Tranmere and the FA Cup...they were back on the Blues' agenda again in 2001, when things did not go quite so well for United. The 6-1 thrashing at Prenton Park to a Jason Koumas-inspired Rovers remains their most recent meeting in the competition.
United: Caig, Edmondson, Archdeacon, Walling, Varty, Pounewatchy, Peacock (Delap), Conway, Smart (Thomas), Hayward, Aspinall. Not used: Prokas.
Tranmere: Nixon, Stevens, Thomas (Irons), McGreal, Higgins, O’Brien (Thomas-Moore), Brannan, Aldridge, Cook, Morrissey (Branch), Nevin.
Crowd: 10,090.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here