Carlisle United: 50th anniversary of 1974/75 season part 11

From the glamour of Liverpool to the more gritty reality of a trip to Layer Road. This was the path Carlisle United took in October 1974 as their battle to regain some form in Division One was paused, and the League Cup returned to the agenda.

Carlisle had, in the second round, disposed of Fourth Division opposition in Bradford City and next for Alan Ashman’s side were the third-tier new boys Colchester United, who knew a thing or two about cup upsets.

Some three years ago the men from Essex had famously dispatched Leeds United in the FA Cup and, having defeated Southend United and Oxford United already in the 74/75 League Cup, Jim Smith’s U’s were well set for another crack at a side playing at a higher level.

“This trip will be just as tough as going to Luton or playing Liverpool here on Saturday,” ventured Blues manager Ashman. His words would prove prescient in different ways.

United’s build-up to their long trip south were affected by a number of injury concerns. Goalkeeper Allan Ross was ruled out by injury, opening the door to Tom Clarke for a rare start, while Hugh McIlmoyle, Chris Balderstone, Mike Barry and Joe Laidlaw were also sidelined.

Only 12 fit players were at Ashman’s disposal, one of them summer signing Eddie Spearritt. The former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder had yet to make his debut but that would change at Layer Road.

Eddie Spearritt (Image: PA)

“Eddie has been showing up well in training and I have no doubt that he will do well for us,” Ashman said. The manager anticipated a difficult contest though observed that Colchester’s ground was “not as tight as we thought”, and possessed a pitch of good quality.

Enough, then, for United’s top-flight team to head there in confidence…yet their hopes of a League Cup run were soon left in tatters thanks to another defiant Colchester showing in knockout competition.

For much of the game it appeared that the Cumbrians were well set to avoid an upset and make the expected progress. Dennis Martin in particular was an elusive presence for the Blues and he caused Smith’s hosts all manner of problems.

Martin had the first shot, from a Tot Winstanley pass, while United continued to probe. Clarke showed good handling from a rare Colchester foray but Carlisle were on top, Frank Clarke going close, Martin denied by a defensive clearance and Clarke then rifling a shot beyond keeper Mike Walker but also watching it clear the bar.

Colchester did grow into the contest, their biting midfield play forcing United into a few errors, while left-back John Gorman was given some difficulties by home winger Phil Thomas.

Colchester boss Jim Smith masterminded a cup upset at Carlisle's expense (Image: PA)

A collision between two Colchester players left Stuart Morgan and Micky Cook unconscious in the United box, the former eventually substituted as the latter duly battled on.

The sight of a stretcher being taken to the Carlisle area brought some barracking from home fans to the Blues, even though no United player had been involved, and things grew uglier when United trainer Dick Young took to the field to attend to the hurt Ray Train, and found missiles, including stones, thrown in his direction.

The hostility then grew in a footballing sense when Colchester shocked United in the 77th minute. Martin, seeking to help out defensively, underhit a pass back to Clarke and Bobby Svarc slipped onto it for the hosts, rounded the Blues keeper and turned the ball into the net.

United had little time to respond before a second goal came. Referee Peter Reeves spotted an infringement by Blues right-back Peter Carr as players jostled before a free-kick, and awarded a penalty. Steve Leslie fired it past Clarke and an aggrieved Carlisle were sent towards a 2-0 defeat.

Much of the aftermath focused on the agitated atmosphere as well as United’s defeat. Ashman protested that “there was not a vicious tackle in the 90 minutes” as it was reported that, before the end of the game, a piece of piping had also been thrown at goalkeeper Clarke.

There were reports of missiles having been thrown at United players and coaches (Image: News & Star)

There were also reports, dismissed as erroneous by the Carlisle contingent, that the referee needed a police escort to protect him from angry Blues players. On footballing terms, Ashman declared himself pleased with some of those who had come into the side, such as Spearritt, even if the result was damaging - and from there it was back on the road for league matters…

…where things were little better. A trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers was next for United and at Molineux their struggles in front of goal continued. United had Balderstone back from injury and, up front, Frank Clarke came close with some early attempts.

Yet they were breached in the 21st minute when Peter Withe turned an acrobatic shot beyond keeper Clarke, who was playing his first league game for more than a year, and Bill McGarry’s hosts grew in confidence from there, Derek Dougan and Mike Bailey increasingly influential.

Wolves stars Derek Parkin and Derek Dougan helped sink United (Image: PA)

Carlisle were not without their attacking moments but, as ever, they lacked potency at the business end and, 14 minutes from time, Derek Parkin made Wolves’ points safe with a swerving 30-yard shot which Tom Clarke could only push against the post and into the net.

United’s keeper made further valiant saves but Carlisle were short at the other end and a second 2-0 defeat in a week maintained their downward momentum in the First Division. In all competitions they had scored two goals in eight games and a return to more dangerous ways was much needed as they sized up their next engagement: a trip to White Hart Lane.

Read last week's 1974/75 feature HERE