Part 12 of our weekly 50th anniversary series charting the events of Carlisle United’s 1974/75 top-flight season.
The headline was clear – and will have found few arguments among readers. “We’ve got to start scoring,” was the Evening News & Star’s interpretation of Alan Ashman’s latest interview, and this was not, it's safe to say, a matter of light and shade.
The reality was stark: Carlisle United’s courageous start to life in the First Division was being imperilled by a lack of potency in opposition penalty areas. In league and cup the Blues had scored two goals in their last eight games, and the manager did not pretend this was anything other than a key concern.
“No-one watches Carlisle United and is not impressed with the good football that we play,” Ashman said. “But it’s no good giving impressive performances yet going down and feeling unlucky.
“Good and bad luck don’t decide results – it’s goals that count.”
United had to rediscover some of their long-lost devil and this task faced them as they prepared for a trip to White Hart Lane. The Blues’ encounter with Tottenham Hotspur came days after a League Cup chastening at the hands of third-tier Colchester United.
The return to league matters also left Ashman with some big selection decisions. One was to drop goalkeeper Tom Clarke, despite some valiant performances, because regular No1 Allan Ross was now back from injury.
“Believe me, it was a difficult choice to make,” Ashman said. “Tom has done a very good job for us and has proved conclusively that he is a keeper of First Division standards. Eventually I decided that I would bank on the experience of Ross.”
Other issues concerned the fitness of certain outfield stars. Les O’Neill and Joe Laidlaw were on the sidelines and this news meant a further outing in the team for Bobby Owen, as well as a midfield call-up for Mike Barry, who was back from his own injury woes.
For Barry it would be only a second league start of the season in north London. The trip was not as daunting as it might have been given that Spurs were, at this particular point, propping up the First Division. The side defeated by Carlisle in August in a game which saw the Blues go top had scarcely improved over the following weeks.
In the intervening time Spurs had appointed Terry Neill as manager, replacing the legendary Bill Nicholson, still a young manager at 32 after four years at the Hull City helm.
Things seemed to be getting little better for the division's bottom side when they began proceedings against a United side desperate for goals. One came along in the fourth minute and it was taken in fine counter-attacking style by Ashman’s side.
Barry won the ball on the right, worked his way further wide and then crossed for Owen, who arrived to sweep the ball past Pat Jennings.
It was a fine goal indeed and further quietened what was already Tottenham’s lowest-ever First Division attendance of 12,823.
United then had to face a Spurs response with Martin Chivers and Jimmy Neighbour prominent and Ross saving well from Cyril Knowles. They could not hold out until half-time for, on 44 minutes, Chivers guided a Steve Perryman flick into the Blues net to level things.
Both sides had their moments after the break, Chris Balderstone close for United and Chivers wasting a great headed chance for the hosts, yet at least the 1-1 draw had ended Carlisle’s recent run of defeats, Owen in particular attracting plaudits for his all-action display.
From there, a contest against a side with higher aspirations was up ahead. Derby County were Brunton Park’s next visitors, the Rams raiding the upper reaches of the table under Dave Mackay. United would again have to do without Laidlaw, amid reports his injured ankle may have to be put into plaster, while O’Neill’s hamstring strain also kept him out once more.
The Blues, though, brushed off these hindrances – and managed to put on a performance quite out of keeping with recent form. They blew Derby away with a sudden goal spree in a display that ranks among their most memorable as a First Division side.
Tom Clarke was back in goal, with Ross sidelined again, and Derby put Carlisle under strong first-half pressure, Francis Lee and Archie Gemmill often the architects and Kevin Hector also going close.
For Carlisle, Owen saw a goal ruled out for offside – but then the Blues stunned their visitors. Ray Train launched an attack before arriving to cross Dennis Martin’s lay-off into the box – and when Balderstone and Frank Clarke’s best efforts spun free, Train arrived and hammered a shot into the Derby net from an angle.
United were sent down the tunnel to a tremendous reception and, after the break, coped with more raids from the tricky Lee before enhancing their lead. In the 66th minute they went 2-0 up, Martin racing in to score after Frank Clarke had hit the post.
And four minutes on, the Blues were over the horizon, Clarke getting his first goal of the season after Derby keeper Colin Boulton had collided with Peter Daniel. United could have won by more, enjoying further late opportunities, but the 3-0 win was more than emphatic and appreciated by the hitherto goal-starved 13,353 home crowd.
Defeating a side fancied by many as potential champions was a huge fillip for the Blues as they sized up a run of tough-looking autumn fixtures. For one member of the team, meanwhile, there was more to look forward to, given that testimonial functions were now being arranged to recognise the service of the great Balderstone.
His record commanded the greatest respect. But, in United's 1974/75, he had plenty more work ahead.
Read last week's 1974/75 feature HERE
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