Keeper score to save lowly Carlisle

By Nick Harvey

Sunday May 9, 1999

Before the teams ran out for a game which could have ended Carlisle's 71-year stint in the Football League, the Tannoy played the theme from The Great escape. They were not to know how appropriate this would be as the Cumbrians were saved from the biggest drop in football by a goal from their keeper in the fifth minute of extra time.

Scarborough's game with Peterborough had long finished as a 1-1 draw and, at Brunton Park, the scores were identical, which would doom the club to relegation. The crowd had long been ready to lynch chairman Michael Knighton who, when he took over the club in 1992 had promised Carlisle Premiership football by the end of the decade and instead had delivered them to the brink of oblivion.

What they were not prepared for was a goal from Jimmy Glass, who had been given special dispensation to join Carlisle from Swindon after transfer deadline because all other keepers were either injured or sold. There were seconds left when a corner from the left [actually, the right] was headed down by Scott Dobie against the Plymouth keeper James Dungey. The ball rolled out to Glass who had come out Schmeichel-like for the last gasp effort. His shot slammed through a body of defenders into the net to keep Carlisle in League football.

Earlier, Knighton arrived before the game to a well-timed chorus of "You're just a fat, greedy bastard," Carlisle having made more money this [again, actually, last] season than Leeds United. The jeers were replaced by a vast rolling cheer around Brunton Park as news came through that on the Yorkshire coast Peterborough had taken the lead against Scarborough.

However, Carlisle still needed to win; the only draw that would do them any good would be the highly improbable 8-8 scoreline. Managing even one proved frustrating - although they had a goal disallowed in the 28th minute.

Plymouth, whose 3-0 defeat at Scarborough in midweek had put Carlisle in this position, looked supremely unconcerned but, four minutes after the restart, the visitors scored when Lee Philips was allowed to run 20 yards entirely unchallenged to pick his spot.

Then, in the 62nd minute Brightwell, the club captain, shot Carlisle level with a shot from 25 yards. It was a hugely improbable strike but nothing compared with what was to follow.

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