February arrived and first up was Darlington at Brunton Park, with Darlo taking the points back to Co. Durham. United then took 7 points from the next three games, drawing away at Kidderminster, followed by two wins in front of the home faithful against Exeter and Torquay. March started with defeat at Lincoln, then Southend visited Cumbria and took a share of the points in a 0-0 draw. Also in March, Stu Whitehead scored his first ever league goal at home to Swansea City, with United running out 3-1 winners. A draw away at Bristol Rovers was followed by back-to-back defeats at the hands of Scunthorpe and Hartlepool. The first time Carlisle had lost two on the bounce since November. Ian Atkins then brought his Oxford side to Brunton Park, and there was no sign of thanks to the former United boss for helping Carlisle survive the season before as Carlisle ran out 2-1 victors. A crucial match was to follow as The Cumbrians travelled to Yorkshire to take on a depleted Halifax Town that looked almost sure to be relegated to the Conference. United only needed one point to be sure of survival and the right to play in the football league for another season. Halifax took a surprise lead early in the first half but were pegged back by Ian Stevens seventh goal of the season. Second half and The Shaymen took the lead for the second time. It looked all but over but in injury time Carlisle forced a corner and as a result Richie Foran was able to poke the ball home from six yards to give the Cumbrian massive something to cheer about. Carlisle had guaranteed themselves a place in the league for next season! Also at the game was one John Courtenay, who was doing commentary for Radio Cumbria, his appearance at the end of the game gave United fans hope once again of getting rid of Knighton and starting afresh with the Irish businessman, who after months of rumours and speculation was still not able to take control of Carlisle United. April began with a home tie against Macclesfield Town, a game not to be forgotten! United trailed 2-1 going into injury time. Central defender, Mark Winstanley popped up from the back and scored an over-head kick from a corner putting the Blues back on level terms. 2-2. Carlisle pushed forward, with Richie Foran leading the attack, Richie and Carlisle were rewarded for their persistence with a 93rd minute penalty that Richie got up and dispatched himself, slotting the ball home sending the Silkmen keeper the wrong way for the second time in the match. Following a fantastic performance against Macclesfield, United were reminded that they were human, losing 1-0 away at Shrewsbury Town. A 0-0 draw was to follow away at York, with special thanks to Peter Keen in the Carlisle United goal as he saved a third minute penalty. The York game had some significant value, as it was Billy Barr’s first game in charge of the Carlisle first team, as manager Roddy Collins had been sacked by Knighton after speaking his mind. Credit should be given to Billy as he was thrown in at the deep end. 13th April 2002 was a date to remember as Plymouth Argyle visited a deserted Brunton Park, well inside anyway. Supporters showed their annoyance and displeasure at the Knighton way by protesting at the main entrance of Brunton Park. Not just Blues fans but Plymouth fans before the game stood side by side with their Cumbrian counterparts chanting for Knighton to go. During the game the protesters marched around the ground and would have been thankful to have missed the game as Carlisle went down 2-0 to the Seagulls. Carlisle took just 5 points all throughout April, finishing the season in a creditable 16th position. But the season will be remembered for its off the field incidents that took place between Mr. John Courtenay and Knighton, rather than the heroics on the pitch that saw Carlisle United climb clear of relegation and into mid-table. In June Carlisle United were placed into administration, Knighton still defiant to sell the club to John Courtenay. June was a terrible month if you were a Blue; players hadn’t been paid in 10 weeks and could legally leave Carlisle on a free transfer if another club came in for them. Then in July, after 7 months of negotiating John Courtenay finally became Carlisle United Chairman!! Knighton had gone and with only three weeks until the start of the 2002/2003 season, reinstated manager Roddy Collins had a hard task on his hands to get a team ready for the first game at home to Hartlepool United. August arrived and Carlisle United only had 19 players on their books. The addition of Irish duo Brian Shelley and Trevor Molloy along with Ryan Baldacchino helped the cause. Hartlepool showed that they would to be title contenders with a 3-1 victory over Carlisle in front of 10,684, all wishing the new Courtenay-Collins regime the best of luck for the new season. After the first four games, Carlisle found themselves sitting in seventh position (joint second) in Division 3, with two fine performances away from home beating both Southend and Lincoln 1-0 (The Lincoln game would see four red cards, three for Carlisle; Foran, Shelley and Molloy) and a 0-0 draw at home to Bristol Rovers. Then a sequence of five defeats in a row saw United plummet down the league. Fellow strugglers Boston visited Brunton Park and were easily beaten 4-2 by a United side with something to prove. A hat trick by Brian Wake helped Carlisle to victory. Away from the league Carlisle had beaten Second Division Oldham Athletic in a thrilling 4-3 match in the LDV trophy, the winner being scored by Craig Farrell in the 96th minute of extra time. This put Carlisle in the third round against another Second Division outfit, Stockport County, who Carlisle had beaten in the Area Final in 1997 to reach the Final down at Wembley. In the League and a disappointing run saw Carlisle go six games without a win. The win finally came at the seventh attempt when Ian Atkins, Oxford lost 1-0 to the Blues. This was the start of a mini revival. Carlisle then beat Kidderminster 2-1 away with Matty Glennon being the hero saving a 92nd minute penalty. Two cup games followed with Carlisle beating Lincoln in the FA Cup 2-1 to proceed into the second round, and Stockport County in the LDV thanks to a 25 yard strike from Will McDonagh in extra time. Two defeats followed as Carlisle lost 2-1 on both occasions to York City and Wrexham. Wrexham had lost to Carlisle just 4 days prior to the league encounter 2-0 in the LDV which now has the Blues in the Semi-Final stage of the competition against Bury at Brunton Park. In the league, Carlisle travelled to Rushden & Diamonds who were second in the league and on a roll, but Carlisle took a point drawing 2-2, the first team to get anything from Rushden at home all season. To cap off 2002 Carlisle gained a point from the game with Darlington at Brunton Park, and lost the final game of the year 2-1 away at Leyton Orient. Some good came from the game as Brian Shelley opened his Cumbrian account with a 35 yard screamer into the O’s net. So as you can see, its been an eventful year if you’re a Carlisle fan: we’ve had our ups and our downs, but we’ve got rid of Knighton, the Courtenay-Collins regime is back and in full flow, and soon the Blue Army will be climbing the table! Let’s hope the start to 2003 is as profitable as the start to 2002 for the Blues! |
