When Carlisle United topped Division One 50 years ago today

To mark the milestone, here we reproduce our Evening News & Star 'Soccer Special' match report in full from that third game – a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Brunton Park on August 24, 1974.

SO EASY – AS CHRIS IS SPOT ON

Carlisle United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0

By Ross Brewster

Carlisle United are still riding high on the crest of a First Division wave. They shattered sad Spurs this afternoon with non-stop attack, but it was left to Chris Balderstone to seal the points with a twice-taken penalty.

Unbeaten, and with a fiercely partisan Brunton Park roar behind them, Carlisle ran Spurs ragged to maintain their 100 per cent record in Division One.

United received a tremendous ovation from their supporters when they came out. They moved quickly on to the attack and Jennings had to deal with Balderstone’s clever through pass as Laidlaw chased hopefully.

Neighbour counter-attacked on the right and gave Green the slip, but the Spurs winger floated his cross too near to ‘keeper Ross who took it confidently.

England won his initial duel with McIlmoyle and cleared his lines calmly under threat from the Carlisle front line.

There was some cautious sparring in the early minutes, but the best break came from United when Martin laid on a defence-splitting ball for Balderstone, but Balderstone was tackled by Perryman as he reached the bye-line.

McIlmoyle jumped well to meet a free-kick from Balderstone, but although his effort was on target, it lacked the pace to trouble Jennings.

McIlmoyle created more trouble for the Tottenham defence when he beat England brilliantly. Beal was covering as the ball came across into the middle and he scrambled it clear.

Martin was next to try and go through for Carlisle, but his drive from the edge of the area was blocked.

Mike England brings down Joe Laidlaw...and United have a penalty (Image: News & Star)

Then, Laidlaw produced a marvellous jinking run to find space for himself inside the visitors’ box. He attempted to curl his shot out of the reach of Jennings, but the Spurs’ keeper was excellently positioned and he caught the ball two-handed.

Carlisle had taken over the initiative, and Spurs, with four men in midfield, were content to wait for the opportunity to break out quickly.

Pratt and Peters combined beautifully on the right and it was a good job that Green was policing Jones as Peters whipped the ball across. The Carlisle skipper slid the ball out for a corner.

Coates tested Ross with a first-timer when the ball was laid back to him by Jones, but United’s keeper was right behind the flight of the ball.

Perryman and Coates looked to be in full command as they relieved one spell of Carlisle pressure with a neat exchange of passes inside their own penalty area.

But in the 20th minute Spurs’ composure was shaken when United forward Joe Laidlaw was brought down just inside the box by England. Referee Roy Capey had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

But more sensations were in store. BALDERSTONE’s first attempt with the penalty, placed low to Jennings’ right, was saved by the keeper. It looked as though United’s chance had come and gone, but the referee ruled that Jennings had moved too soon – and he ordered the kick to be retaken.

This time, Balderstone made no mistake, sending Jennings the wrong way with a firmly hit shot which went high into the roof of the net.

Pat Jennings goes the wrong way as Chris Balderstone scores from a twice-taken penalty (Image: News & Star)

Spurs were visibly shaken and Train almost made it 2-0 moments later. His 35-yard snap shot, hit superbly, caught Jennings off his line but rebounded clear after striking the underside of the bar.

Laidlaw was having a magnificent match up front for Carlisle; challenging hard and posing endless problems for the Tottenham defence with his direct running. He made one absolutely sparkling individual dash before firing in a great effort which Jennings did well to save.

Laidlaw was taking on Evans at every opportunity, and generally he managed to get round his man. By comparison the visiting attack was relatively ineffective with its approach play.

Winstanley, recalled to the Carlisle defence due to the absence of the injured Gorman, had settled down well.

His only error was to mistime a headed clearance but Parker raced across to halt Neighbour’s progress.

Neighbour switched wings persistently to try to fashion an opening, but on the occasion he won a free-kick – strategically just outside the box – Evans wasted his shot.

There was certainly no reluctance by the Carlisle forwards to drop back and help out whenever necessary. McIlmoyle and Laidlaw were covering when Spurs menaced.

The visitors took control of the game for a while, approaching half-time, but most of their attacks ended with the long diagonal cross, played right into the hands of Green and his co-defenders.

Half-time – CARLISLE 1 TOTTENHAM 0

Peters must have been a super optimist to try a shot from a very long way out after the Carlisle defence had given his possession. Ross didn’t even have to worry about hurrying back because the effort went yards wide.

McIlmoyle turned the Spurs defence cleverly, but, although Laidlaw was full of tricks as he tried to weave his way through, eventually Tottenham managed to clear.

Peters provided Carlisle’s rearguard with a moment’s apprehension when finding Beal right in front of goal and unmarked following a free-kick. But Beal was offside.

McIlmoyle nearly eluded the entire Tottenham defence with a skilful dribble, but when he pushed the ball back across the six yard line, England belted it away.

Coates tried to stamp some authority on the game with a characteristic flowing run, but the final pass was wasted.

And when Neighbour tried to outrun O’Neill he only succeeded in prodding the ball out of control and over for a goalkick – it was that sort of day for the out-of-sorts Spurs front line.

The First Division results on August 24, 1974...and how the league table looked (Image: News & Star)

There were appeals for another Carlisle penalty award when Pratt upended Laidlaw in the 62nd minute. The offence appeared to have taken place a yard or so inside the area, but after consultations with his linesman, the referee decided to give a free-kick just outside the box.

Almost immediately, Spurs brought on Irish international forward McGrath in place of Jones.

Coates lashed one fierce shot just over the bar but, by and large, the Carlisle defence had given Tottenham few openings.

Laidlaw continued to harass and bustle whenever Carlisle came forwards, though McGrath showed neatness in setting up Pratt for a Spurs effort which just missed.

After 70 minutes Carlisle brought on substitute Frank Clarke in place of McIlmoyle. McIlmoyle was warmly applauded by the crowd for his hard grafting stint.

Within two minutes Carlisle experienced one of their few really awkward moments of the match as first Pratt had a shot blocked, then Coates, following up at close range, had the ball pushed away from him for a corner.

Laidlaw’s flick-on set Balderstone moving down the left flank, but with Laidlaw and Clarke charging through the middle in anticipation of the cross, England judged his recovery well to head for a corner.

A further excellent link-up, this time featuring Clarke and Balderstone, had Spurs all at sea and O’Neill nearly managed to add to his already impressive early season goals tally, but he sliced his shot right across the face of goal.

Coates drew a competent diving save from Ross with a useful looking shot then the 18,426 crowd drew breath anxiously when Peters flashed a header a fraction wide.

Spurs were tending to dictate the game from midfield, although Carlisle seemed content to let them have a certain amount of the ball and just drop back to cover.

Even so, Spurs were having a much greater share of the play with McGrath adding life to the attack.

Martin’s magnificent cross-field ball enabled Carlisle to relieve some of the pressure. Balderstone moved inside to try a crafty chip and catch Jennings out of his goal, but the keeper was alive to the danger.

TEAMS

Carlisle United: Ross, Carr, Winstanley, O’Neill, Green, Parker, Martin, Train, McIlmoyle, Balderstone, Laidlaw. Sub: Clarke.

Tottenham Hotspur: Jennings, Evans, Naylor, Beal, England, Coates, Pratt, Perryman, Jones, Peters, Neighbour. Sub: McGrath.