Part 18 of our weekly 50th anniversary series charting the events of Carlisle United’s 1974/75 top-flight season.
If you wanted an angry manager on your case in November 1974, there was a simple route. Just turn up at Brunton Park and tell Alan Ashman that Carlisle United’s main problem was bad luck.
The Blues had lost five games on the spin by the odd goal, accelerating their slide down Division One, and the manager was concerned that the theory of misfortune could burrow its way into players’ minds.
So he spoke out. “What we need at Ipswich in our next game is either a good win, which I believe we can get, or a good hammering,” he said.
A what? “I know that this must sound a funny thing to say," Ashman went on. "[But] we need something to shake us out of this mood. You can get too much of this ‘bad luck’ line. That is why I would rather have a hammering than a defeat by the odd goal.”
Naturally, any sort of win, even a draw, would be preferable to what Ashman went on to term “a good belting”. Bobby Robson’s highly-regarded Ipswich side had the potential to dish out something from the latter column but United, at least, could travel to Portman Road in decent physical shape.
Their injury problems were at last easing, while the Blues were also fortified by a round of anti-flu jabs which had been booked in for the preceding days. United had the smallest playing squad in the First Division, and any outbreak had the potential to affect seriously their numbers.
All the members of Ashman’s ranks were present and correct for the trip to Suffolk – a game which had particular significance from striker Frank Clarke, who had joined United from Ipswich in the summer of 1973. “Every Saturday I look for their result first,” the Blues forward said. “It will be nice seeing them again. I’ve got a lot of friends in Ipswich.”
While United went off to seek some much-needed points, another urgent search was under way in Carlisle. Front-page news concerned none other than Miss World, who had contrived to vanish from a motel in the city.
Helen Morgan from Wales had been staying in the city’s Crest Motel when she was questioned by a national newspaper reporter over her love life and potential involvement in a divorce case. It was reported that Miss Morgan, who had given an interview to Border Television during her Cumbrian stay, had duly tendered her resignation, before heading south and then boarding a car in Peterborough, since when she had not been seen.
Dramatic stuff. In the more prosaic world of First Division football, Carlisle travelled south with a full squad – minus trainer Dick Young, who was sidelined after a dental procedure – and lined up against Ipswich with hope.
Hope which, alas, was shattered inside the first 20 minutes. By then United were 2-0 down and at least on the way to satisfying one of Ashman’s pre-match preferences.
Ashman promoted Mike Barry to the side at Joe Laidlaw’s expense, and named Clarke captain against his former club. Yet Carlisle had to fish the ball out of their net twice in the first two minutes. Ipswich had an immediate goal disallowed but moments later Colin Viljoen broke into the box and squared for Bryan Hamilton to convert, and this one counted.
Carlisle tried to respond quickly but Eddie Prudham, on the charge, was thwarted by Mick Mills. Clarke then hooked a shot wide…and then United conceded again.
Ipswich’s second came after John Gorman had blocked a Trevor Whymark shot following a corner, with David Johnson following in to blast home from the edge of the box.
It was already now a steep climb for United. At the back, Bobby Parker swept up further danger as Whymark and Clive Woods caused more problems, the Blues’ record signing also hooking a Brian Talbot shot off the line. Before the break, Les O’Neill and Dennis Martin came close for Carlisle – and Ashman’s side then started the second half with good intentions.
It found them a way back into the game when Train passed to O’Neill, and the midfielder rocketed a 25-yard shot which was too good for keeper Laurie Sivell.
It appeared that a comeback might now be on, Carlisle playing with increased confidence and Ipswich boss Robson ever more animated on the touchline. Yet United struggled to penetrate enough to get a second. Martin and Prudham applied pressure before Laidlaw was introduced for a final surge.
It did not pay off, as Ipswich – whose defence was manned by the brilliant young Cumbrian, Kevin Beattie – held them off and then swept forward to clinch the game. Seven minutes from time, Mick Lambert found space in the box to drill a third past Allan Ross.
And 3-1 it finished, despite further flurries at both ends, a sixth successive loss for the Cumbrians, who were now second bottom of the First Division, their conquerors third. Ashman pinpointed the leaky first 20 minutes at Portman Road as critical, but retained faith in his open style of play.
“We should have been better organised - we gave away the goals through mistakes,” he said. “But I was not disheartened by the game. We don’t kick, close up tight, shut up at the back with a back four and sweeper. I have never turned to defensive football in my 12-year managerial career.
“I will persevere with this attacking policy. [Otherwise] I would feel that I was conning the Carlisle supporters who have been offered entertaining football for many years now.”
The Blues would, then, continue to live by the sword – yet it was high time they remembered how to wield it.
Read last week’s 1974/75 feature HERE
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