I love it when a plan comes together, which it often doesn't on this page, and I'm sure that your matchday programme editor Andy Hall will agree you with that as well as far as producing the whole publication is concerned. But that line from Colonel Hannibal Smith comes to mind now as the initial plan when we faced Macclesfield at home was to cover our Football League Trophy history in the 1980s. Then hopefully get two more ties at Brunton Park to do the 90s and then the "noughties". And here we are this evening facing a team who we have had many intriguing games with in just a few years of the sides being in the same division together. With Leeds losing last night at home to Spurs in the FA Cup, let's hope Jermain Defoe can keep his goalscoring form going in South Africa in the summer by too, they will be even more determined to overcome a one goal first leg deficit tonight. Let's try not to remember what happened the last time we said that by the way. Wembley is of course the carrot for both sides this evening as they look to progress to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final but it was the Millennium Stadium where clubs were looking to go in the first campaign in the noughties. Sadly for Carlisle that didn't last too long though as in 2000-01 they crashed out at the first fence, 2-1 away to Kidderminster after extra-time, Steve Soley scoring the United goal in the 86th minute that took the tie into a further 30 minute period, albeit to no avail. It was defeat at the opening stage next season too, 2-1 in 90 minutes away to Port Vale, Richie Foran putting the Blues 1-0 up after 19 minutes before the Valiants came back to win. It was all different in 2002-03 though when Carlisle made it all the way to the final with three extra-time victories in five ties. First out was Oldham away and a lengthened game saw Carlisle win 4-3, Craig Farrell, with it being 3-3 at 90 minutes, getting the all important goal after scoring earlier alongside a brace from Leon Osman. Will McDonagh's 109th minute winner defeated Stockport County 1-0 at home in the second round, but only 90 minutes were required to defeat Wrexham 2-0 in another Brunton Park match. Jon McCarthy netting in the first-half before Paul Robinson, a Wimbledon-loanee, made sure of the victory with two minutes left on the clock. It was soon back to the late nights though at Brunton Park as Bury were put to the sword 3-2. That man McDonagh again getting the extra-time golden goal, after earlier scoring late in normal time, to lengthen the tie after the Blues had initially gone 1-0 up thanks to Foran. The two-legged area final against Shrewsbury was much less action packed though with Adam Rundle's first-half goal at Brunton Park in the opening match proving to be the only one over the two legs. So our first trip to the Millennium Stadium came in early 2003, United outnumbered in the crowd of 50,913 by Bristol City as far as support was concerned in a local game for the Bristolians. Carlisle still in the match as late as 13 minutes from time before, somewhat inevitably, Lee Peacock scored, then Liam Rosenior wrapped up the win for City a minute from the end. Things started rosily again in 2003-04 with 2-0 home wins over Rochdale, goals from Rundle and Brian Wake, and then Huddersfield, Steven Schumacher and Wake, before another Brunton Park tie saw Carlisle crash out 3-0 against Sheffield Wednesday. Next season Grimsby were defeated at home 2-1 thanks to goals from Kevin Henderson and Simon Grand, before yet another Brunton Park tie saw us go out in the second round after losing 1-0 to Hartlepool. 2005-06 saw us back in Cardiff again, the first game seeing us win 6-5 on penalties at Oldham after the tie had ended 1-1 over 120 minutes, Karl Hawley scoring the United goal in the opening five minutes. Next out came a 2-1 home win over Blackpool, all the action coming in a short spell around the midway point in the second-half when Gary Harkins scored for the Seasiders before the Blues were quickly in front thanks to Hawley and Derek Holmes. Then came that match at Tranmere where Carlisle won 11-10 penalties after 120 minutes of goalless action, Rovers goalkeeper Steve Wilson fluffing his lines after 20 successful spot-kicks in a row. Grand, struggling with cramp, the hero of the night for United though as he netted with ease to take the Cumbrians through. Kidderminster at home next up proving a much less spectacular game as Glenn Murray scored the only goal of the game three minutes from time. The area final against Macclesfield was full of entertainment though, Peter Murphy scoring in injury time at Brunton Park, after Karl Hawley had cancelled out Andy Smart's early goal to give the Cumbrians a 2-1 first leg lead. Down at the Moss Rose it took a fantastic Keiren Westwood double save to stop the Silkmen going 3-0 up in a horrendous opening part of the game for United, Hawley though making it 2-1 at the break. Grand then scored in the second period of extra-time to make it 4-3 to Carlisle on aggregate before Kevin Townson netted in the dying seconds to mean United squeaked through on the away goals rule. At the Millennium, it was another local side, in Swansea, that the Blues faced, Lee Trundle and Adebayo Akinfenwa scoring either side of Adam Murray to give the Swans a 2-1 win in front of only 42,028 spectators. Although, like Birmingham in 1995, the game was remembered as much for a t-shirt celebration as anything else. Sadly in 2006-07, with the competition now renamed the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, it was out at the first hurdle for Carlisle. The Blues losing 3-1 on penalties at Accrington Stanley after the game had finished 1-1 over 90 minutes, Holmes scoring for United. Next season we received a bye in the opening round before defeating Chester 4-2 at home at stage two, Kevin Gall with a brace, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Danny Graham getting the goals for the Blues. It was soon all over in the area quarter-finals at Brunton Park though when United, at 0-0 at half-time, shipped three second-half goals in a disappointing performance against Stockport. While things got even worse last season, as following another first round bye, we lost 4-3 on penalties at Rochdale after the game had finished 2-2 over 90 minutes, Michael Bridges and Gary Madine having netted for the Cumbrians. And so that of course takes us into the current campaign, but it's surely time to break the hoodoo tonight in two ways. Firstly that infamous 2-1 first leg advantage over Leeds, and then the fact that in six area finals we have got through to four overall finals by playing the away game last, while playing the home game last has seen us lose twice. So a chance to put two things to the sword, come on the Blues, and come on the fans too, let's make it fantastic night at Brunton Park for all of us. |