Part ten of our weekly 50th anniversary series charting the events of Carlisle United’s 1974/75 top-flight season.
If Carlisle United needing any reminding about the value of reaching the First Division, the fixture list very much provided it at the start of October 1974.
The visit of Liverpool, no less, would set the Blues both an exacting test on the pitch and an occasion to capture the imagination of supporters.
Alan Ashman, often so measured in his public comments, could not underplay the excitement as Bob Paisley’s Reds prepared to head to Cumbria. “Make no mistake, this is the big game. This is what promotion is all about,” Carlisle’s manager said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to put on a match such as this for the fans. They should pack the ground on Saturday to see a side who must rank among the very best in Europe.”
It was indeed a formidable Liverpool team, even if they’d lost their two preceding league games. Under Paisley – who had replaced former Carlisle boss Bill Shankly in July – they possessed star players such as Ray Clemence, Ian Callaghan, Emlyn Hughes, Steve Heighway, Ray Kennedy and Kevin Keegan, who Carlisle had tried and failed to sign from Scunthorpe United three years earlier.
Liverpool warmed up for the trip to Cumbria by defeating Norwegian side Stromsgodset in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup: a 1-0 away win completing a 12-0 aggregate triumph, their travels unlikely to leave them too jaded for the Brunton Park trip, according to Ashman: “They are used to this sort of thing. They are a side with tremendous experience.”
Carlisle anticipated their biggest crowd of their top-flight season so far even though they declined to make the game all-ticket. It was not expected to hit the ground’s increased official capacity of 28,000 but hopes were that it could at least reach the 20,000 mark.
“The gates will be open from 1.30pm and it would be very helpful if our supporters could get down to the ground as early as possible,” said secretary David Dent, anticipating a bumper occasion.
On the pitch, Chris Balderstone looked to have overcome a thigh problem in order to train ahead of the fixture, but in the event he was not risked against the formidable Reds, Bobby Owen taking his place.
He did so in a game which, in front of an eventual 20,844 – the biggest league home crowd United would draw all campaign – saw Ashman’s side in typically enterprising form, yet once more hindered by what was now a consistent failing in terms of converting chances.
In the opposition ranks, Keegan was making his first outing of the season, having served an 11-game ban for his Charity Shield punch-up with Leeds United’s Billy Bremner at Wembley. He drew an early foul from Ray Train while Carlisle attacked Paisley’s side with optimism.
Joe Laidlaw attracted close defensive attention when bursting into the box while a cross-field ball from Owen allowed Dennis Martin to set up Laidlaw, who headed just wide.
It was initially promising, though Liverpool’s midfield led them back into the game, with Callaghan to the fore and Heighway a threat on the wing. Allan Ross saved from a Callaghan shot and later showed great alertness to take a chance off Kennedy’s toes.
Hugh McIlmoyle went close for the Blues, and Keegan missed a good chance for Liverpool, yet the question of who would be the side to take one of these opportunities was answered in the 36th minute.
It was provided, to begin with, by the Reds’ Phil Boersma, who went on a clever run from midfield, and when his shot was blocked, Kennedy pounced to slip the ball past Ross.
The opening goal heralded renewed Liverpool pressure yet, after the break, Carlisle tried to recover, Clemence twice denying Laidlaw and Martin embarking on a solo run which ended with a 25-yard shot wide.
There was no denying United’s persistence yet the goal would not come. They were kept interested in the contest by more Liverpool profligacy, the rusty Keegan missing another prime chance from six yards out and Boersma inaccurate from a Heighway pass late on.
Yet Carlisle, who were also stopped in their tracks by some meaty Liverpool tackles, could not claw their way back into things and a 1-0 defeat reflected their goal-shy endeavours. They had now scored just two in seven games.
The toll was also taken in terms of the treatment room. As many as four players suffered knocks and strains, leaving Ashman to count the bodies before United’s next game – a League Cup trip to Colchester United.
In terms of the table, Carlisle had now slid into the bottom half of Division One, although they were flying high in one other respect. United were officially the cleanest team in the top division so far, only one player receiving a booking in their first 11 fixtures, putting the Blues top of the Fair Play league.
“Before each match we talk about behaviour on the field and the boys have done well,” said manager Ashman. “Their records show just how much each player disciplines himself.
“It’s possible to avoid trouble on the pitch without being namby-pamby.”
Maybe so. But the sense remained that United were now encountering some of the harder realities of their season at the top – and more were to come.
Read last week's 1974/75 feature HERE
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