As usual, the match itself is a blur to me. We had one shot cleared off the line, they had some good shots too. Oh, Lincoln scored at one point. But all that pales into insignificance against the fact that Carl Heggs scored the goal
me!
that clinched our continued League status.
David Atkinson
The Blues Are Staying Up
Wonderful scenes greeted the final whistle at Sincil Bank last night as Carlisle United earned the point that preserves their Third Division status for next season.
A mass pitch invasion by both sets of supporters looked to be heading towards ugly scenes only for the fans of both sides to join together in amazing scenes of mutual appreciation.
That man Carl Heggs popped up again with a 66th minute equaliser to send the 800 strong Carlisle support into hysterical scenes of delight.
An emotional Ian Atkins said after the game: " The players are physically and emotionally drained be very happy. No one can comprehend what they have been through. The hard work has been done, now things must change behind the scenes to take this club forward."
The first chance of the game, on six minutes, fell to Scott Dobie, a surprise starter following his hamstring injury, but his header, from a Lee Maddison cross, failed to stretch home keeper Alan Marriott.
A minute later Jon Cullen broke forward only to pull his shot wide of the post. With 13 minutes gone the Imps took the lead when a Steve Soley slip let in Tony Battersby to cross into the box for Steve Holmes to power a right foot shot past Matty Glennon.
The game became scrappy through the middle of the half but was brightened by a 40th minute run from Battersby who forced Glennon into a full length save The Cumbrians almost snatched a stoppage time equaliser but Jon Cullen was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line by Stuart Bimson.
Carlisle pushed forward after the break with Soley heading wide from a 56th minute Maddison cross. Then two minutes later Stuart Whitehead headed wide from a Maddison corner.
Carlisle were almost caught on the break as Lee Thorpe got away down the left to force a full length save out of Glennon.
On 66 minutes the all important equaliser came when Maddison broke down the left and his cross fell perfectly for substitute Heggs to volley home from 10 yards.
Carlisle were then content to play the game out with Lincoln finding it difficult to break down the resolute Cumbrian defence in which Dave Morley was again outstanding.
Saturdays final home game with Hull City can now be a day of celebration in stark contrast to the nail biting finishes of the last two seasons.
Mike Corry
Tired Lincoln obviously hadn't read the script beforehand because after 13 minutes of sustained pressure against a very ordinary Carlisle United, the Imps were one up. A defensive error allowed Lincoln to take advantage of a flat Carlisle back line and fire home from close range.
The rest of the first half was tense as time after time the Imps pushed forward and were first to every ball with Carlisle happy to punt it away mindlessly each time they managed to get hold of the ball.
Whatever Ian Atkins said at half time must have worked as the Blues came out fighting in the second half and won nearly all the loose ball and really made the Lincoln defence work hard as corner after corner was awarded - surely a goal must come soon, but each corner was floated in SO deep that all the Carlisle attackers were stranded on the goal line.
We were eventually rewarded when supersub Carl Heggs aimed a curling shot past the helpless Marriot in the Lincoln goal. The fans went nuts (naturally) and after the pitch was cleared of the few that ran on the game continued.
With the point guaranteeing Carlisle league football next season, Atkin's men held their lines and defended in numbers, occasionally testing the Lincoln defenders but in the last ten minutes were happy to put the ball as far down the pitch as possible and allow Lincoln to come at them.
At the final whistle both sets of supporters (both safe from relegation) poured onto the pitch and I was seriously worried that there would be trouble...but in scenes reminiscent of Christmas in the Somme the fans met up and shook hands, swapped shirts and sang their songs of celebration - emotional scenes. The Carlisle supporters were fantastic throughout and we were all hoarse afterwards from singing during the whole match - a credit to the city.
Now, who would be a Torquay or Barnet supporter?
michael chalmers
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