It's just over four and a half years ago that we last met now, the time disappears as quickly as the hairline sadly. Our 2004-05 season in what was then the Nationwide Conference ending with a narrow play-off final victory over a Stevenage outfit that have gone close to getting promotion to the Football League on numerous occasions. That campaign was the only time the Cumbrians and the Shrimps have played each other in competitive fashion. The first game of the Christmas double header in the league coming on Boxing Day. Karl Hawley's 15th minute strike being cancelled out by Michael Twiss after 49 minutes to produce a 1-1 draw at Christie Park. The game 24 hours after New Year's Day was far more entertaining for the SKY viewers watching as the match at Brunton Park ended honours even again at 3-3. Carlisle racing into an early 2-0 lead through Glenn Murray and Andy Preece, Wayne Curtis then scoring for you before Magno Vieira made it 3-1 at the break. You weren't to be beaten that day though and second-half goals from Garrys Hunter and Thompson saw the match end 3-3. We did play one other game that was very similar to this tie tonight, that being in the fourth round of the northern section of the Conference Cup in mid-February at Christie Park. Carlisle going behind to a goal from some bloke called Danny Carlton before Craig Farrell equalised. No further goals meaning that the tie went to penalties after extra-time, a shootout which you won easily 3-1. After winning the League Two title in our first season back in the league our boss Paul Simpson made his way down the M6 to manage your good friends Preston. Simpson perhaps a pantomime villain for you being an ex-Blackpool player who also managed North End. Greg Abbott the current incumbent in the Brunton Park hot seat, his part of a season in full charge seeing us finish out of the relegation zone on the final day after beating Millwall 2-0 at home last May. The two League One campaigns in-between found us finishing eighth and then pretty much blowing automatic promotion late on in 2007-08 when we ended up losing in the play-off semi-finals to Leeds. Like all teams that go up two seasons in a row rebuilding of the side eventually has to come into play. That being the case at the moment as United have earned good money from players moving on into the Championship, from Keiren Westwood, Joe Garner and Danny Graham in particular. With so many new players still gelling at the moment results have been inconsistent, that no more shown than by a 1-0 home defeat against Exeter in the league a week last Saturday being followed by an excellent 2-0 Carling Cup success at Bristol City just three days later. It's a different cup competition tonight though and both sides will no doubt be going all out to make it through the rounds and have a big day out at Wembley, that's if you're not too bored of the place. |