JPT Final Review - Brentford 0 Carlisle 1

Brentford 0-1 Carlisle United

Sunday April 3, Wembley. (Att: 40,476)

An early goal from Carlisle stalwart Peter Murphy saw the Cumbrians made amends for last season's JPT Final disappointment against Southampton to defeat Brentford.

Twelve months ago, Greg Abbott's men were swept aside by a swaggering Saints side, but this time they resolutely defended their advantage to snuff out any chance of a comeback from the London side.

In the process, United's second Trophy win in their sixth final, ensured they became the most successful side in the competition's almost 30-year history.

Carlisle began on the offensive and were unfortunate not to go ahead early on when Francis Zoko's flick header from a left wing cross was briliantly tipped wide by Bees keeper Simon Moore.

However, United weren't to denied for much longer when, from their fourth corner of the game, Murphy was on hand to control a Zoko header and volley the ball home.

The Londoners tried to respond with a Sam Saunders free kick narrowly wide and then the same man lashed an effort from outside the area off target.

Nicky Forster's side tried to push for a leveller in the second period and came close when Jeffrey Schlupp fashioned an opening for himself only for his shot to come back off the post.

The Bees ended the game with 10 men after Toumani Diagouraga's sending off with three minutes of normal time remaining.

It ensured Carlisle saw out the last few minutes and secured their first Trophy success since 1997.

Destiny Calling

With Northampton Town struggling at the wrong end of League Two, Nobes looks at the concept of fate and destiny in football - and whether it's about to catch up with the Cobblers.

Northampton boss Gary Johnson is aiming to keep his side in League Two

Albert Einstein once remarked that: "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control."

It's what we refer to as fate, a pre-determined destiny that, no matter what we do, we cannot prevent. It is inevitable, unstoppable, and is simply a question of 'when' and not 'if.'

Commentators often refer to the "Footballing Gods" which, depending on the luck a side gets, are either smiling on a team, or not. Not even the beautiful game, it seems, can escape the inescapable.

It is, perhaps, the fear that should be permeating through every Northampton Town fan right now. The Cobblers are currently on a run of 13 games without a win, and are struggling to gain any momentum under new boss Gary Johnson.

After Barnet's surprise win at fellow strugglers Burton at the weekend, Town sit just four points above the League Two drop zone, anxiously looking over their shoulder as they get sucked into a scrap for survival.

Tonight they travel to Burton themselves in a crunch game which, if lost, will have Northampton fans of a certain age casting their minds back ago to 1994 when their side finished bottom of the entire Football League.

However, they were granted a reprieve because the ground of Conference champions Kidderminster Harriers wasn't deemed good enough to gain entry to the 92 club.

Ever since, Cobblers have established themselves a yo-yo side between the third and fourth tiers, either battling the drop in League One or making a push for promotion from League Two.

However, this term, despite upsetting Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup, Town have endured a tough campaign. It saw playing legend Ian Sampson removed as manager last month, with the experienced Gary Johnson brought in to replace him.

The former Bristol City and Peterborough boss, who won the basement division with Yeovil in 2005, has struggled to turn around fortunes at Sixfields though. Relegation cannot be ruled out.

Enter fate to play its part in a surprisingly intriguing fight against relegation into the Non Leagues. History does not make pretty reading for the Northamptonshire outfit.

Northampton were one of five sides in the '90s who, because of other clubs going bust or Conference Champions denied promotion, despite finishing bottom of the Football League weren't relegated.

In 1991, the demise of Aldershot spared Wrexham the drop. Twelve months later and bottom placed Carlisle were thankful for Maidstone's financial woes causing them to have to exit the League instead.

Then Torquay and Exeter, like Cobblers, were saved from the drop because Stevenage and Macclesfield's respective grounds weren't considered up to Football League standards.

After a lucky escape in 1995, Exeter were relegated from League Two in 2003

Come the Noughties, and fate caught up with all four though. Exeter were the first when, in 2003, they became the first side to be relegated in 23rd after the introduction of two-up-two down between the Football and Non Leagues.

Carlisle, so often the experts at the great escape, finally fell through the trapdoor in 2004, having given themselves one too many a mountain to climb.

In 2007, it was Torquay who slumped to a miserable relegation and a year on Wrexham took the plunge in the Conference - where they remain to this day. Is fate now about to catch up with Northampton too?

It may sound slightly surreal, does fate really play a part in football? However, sport, like life, has a funny way of evening things out.

Having been denied promotion, Macclesfield, Kidderminster, and Stevenage all eventually made it to the Football League. They weren't to be denied the second time they won each won the Conference title.

Indeed, there are many superstitions surrounding the transition between the Football and Non Leagues in recent years.

Kidderminster's spell in the Football League lasted exactly five seasons, between 2000 and 2005. The side that succeeded them as Conference Champions, Rushden & Diamonds, also lasted just five years before relegation in 2006.

My own club, Boston United, also spent five years in the Football League, between 2002 and 2007. Chester City likewise with five years between 2004 and 2009.

Even forgetting the "five year curse" as it became known, there was a feeling when my club were on the brink of relegation that the Footballing Gods were exacting some karma into proceedings.

The irony wasn't lost on us that our place in the 92 was taken by the club we so controversially pipped to the Conference title, Dagenham & Redbridge. They had to take our place, it was written in the stars.

As it had been 12 months previously when Oxford United were relegated to the Conference. When they had joined the Football League in 1962 it had been because of the demise of debt-ridden Accrington Stanley.

Forty-four years later, and the phoenix club from the Lancashire town were on hand to swap places with Oxford again. You can't write scripts like that.

The first ever year of two-down from League Two saw Exeter and Shrewsbury drop down. The two had faced one another on the opening day.

The following season it was Carlisle and York who were facing up to life in the Non Leagues. They had begun the campaign against one another too.

Cobblers can at least console themselves with the fact they lined up on the opening day against Torquay rather than face the seemingly doomed Stockport.

However, when they take to the field on the final day at Morecambe, they will hope in the resort of the notorious quicksands to not experience a sinking feeling of their own. Time to prove Einstein wrong.

JPT Final Preview - Brentford vs. Carlisle

We continue our build up to this weekend's JPT Final as Nobes previews the two teams involved.

Brentford vs. Carlisle United

Sunday April 3, 13:30, Wembley

The irony isn't lost on me that I'm here trying to make the final of a competition that I have very little affection for sound like one of the season's showpiece occasions.

What's that you say? Turls has already milked it for all it's worth and I can just focus on the actual football rather than glorifying a competition which isn't really worth caring about?

Well, that's a relief. Not least because it would have involved me discovering a heart, but also because, like Mario Balotelli with grass, I have an adverse reaction to any kind of cup competition which detracts from a league season.

Still, I have no doubts that fans of Brentford and Carlisle will be feeling very different in the build up to the 28th Football League Trophy final.

It's a match both will be desperate not to lose, and one in which a win will provide the highlight for what looks like being a season of mid table nothingness for the Bees and Cumbrians.

Not that it's been totally uneventful, particularly for the Londoners. They enjoyed a profitable run to the Fourth Round of the League Cup earlier in the campaign including knocking out Everton along the way.

They ultimately fell to eventual winners Birmingham at St Andrew's and, once out of the cup, quickly turned around their league form which had seen them struggling towards the wrong end of the table.

This was all under the guidance of boss Andy Scott who, in his first two years, had taken the Bees to the League Two title before a respectable 9th place finish in the third last term.

However, the natives were restless at Griffin Park, with the manager coming in for criticism. His biggest crime seemed to be his outspoken belief that "tippy tappy" football wouldn't be successful.

It was no surprise then when Scott was given the axe at the beginning of February after a poor run saw Brentford sliding back down the table - despite them progressing to the Southern Area final of the JPT.

In his place came experienced player Nicky Forster, who has done the rounds in the lower leagues during his career as a striker. He enjoyed the classic New Manager Syndrome, which was enough to see them past Exeter.

Home games against struggling sides Plymouth, Tranmere, and Bristol Rovers were also all won, which has helped lift the Bees into the comfort of mid-table.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of Scott's sacking - and in my opinion it was a sad indictment of the modern game - Forster has overseen an improvement in results and been handed the reins until the end of the season.

Should he steer them to a win in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday, it would make the case for giving him the job next summer even stronger. Don't underestimate just how much this game means to Forster himself.

In a neat twist, the Bees actually hosted Carlisle at Griffin Park last Friday, running out 2-1 winners. They will hope to have gained a psychological advantage over their opponents.

The sides also met on the opening day of the season in the North West, when United emerged comfortable 2-0 victors. Sunday's final really does represent a best of three encounter therefore.

Key men for the Londoners this season have been striking pair Gary Alexander and Charlie McDonald, who have notched up 22 goals between them.

As a rule though, the Bees have largely struggled for goals this season - only twice scoring more than twice in a game.

With them also boasting one of League One's better defences, it would be fair to say not to expect too many goals at the weekend.

This could be a crucial game for both Nicky Forster and Greg Abbott's futures

What of opponents Carlisle though? The masters of reaching the JPT Final are back once again, looking to right the wrongs of last year and actually return home from this fixture with a smile on their faces.

If the winners of a competition were determined by their effort and commitment to it, then Carlisle would win it every year. Indeed, a United boss not taking the competition seriously is frowned upon by the Brunton Park supporters.

Not that the current incumbent of the manager's seat has found it easy to win over the Carlisle fans despite a record which deserves respect.

Greg Abbott - no, not the '80s popstar - took over at Carlisle in 2008 with the club battling against relegation. He ensured they stayed up and last season built on that escape.

The Cumbrians had a solid mid table campaign and topped it off with that JPT Final against Southampton. They have been similarly solid this term, never looking like struggling and never being good enough to challenge for the top six.

This time though, a win at Wembley would surely increase Abbott's support amongst the Carlisle fan base and win around more doubters who still think he is the wrong man for the job.

It would have been fascinating to see what would have happened had Carlisle, 4-0 up from the first leg of their Northern Area final, not actually made it to Wembley.

In the end, they restricted Huddersfield to just the 3-0 scoreline back in West Yorkshire, to reach Wembley in the most underwhelming and deflating way imaginable.

Had they thrown away that advantage though, the knives would have been out for the United boss. Forget Forster needing a win to keep him in his position, Abbott could do with some job security himself.

One of Carlisle's outstanding performers this term has been Francois Zoko. The Ivorian striker is reportedly attracting the interest of clubs higher up the league scored ten goals in all competitions.

The burden of scoring the goals has also fallen on him after the loss of set piece wizard Ian Harte to Reading and the sale of top scorer Gary Madine to Sheffield Wednesday.

Fortunately, Abbott has been able to hold onto the services of midfield maestro Tom Taiwo, who remains a vital cog in the Carlisle team and could be key if United are to emerge victorious at the national stadium.

The Cumbrians have certainly been more dangerous going forwards than their opponents this term, particularly on home soil.

However, they've also been more vulnerable at the back, and in recent away trips conceded four at Brighton before being thumped for six at Peterborough.

With both sides being so close in the League One standings, as well as having beaten one another this season, this match is very difficult to call.

I can't lie, I am biased going into the match, as Carlisle are a club I have a soft spot for, and I would like to see them win the match.

However, I just have a feeling that this may be Brentford's year. They have proved to be a decent cup team, and will have a good backing with a long awaited trip to Wembley being not far for fans to travel to.

I hope I'm wrong, but I see this going the way of the Bees in a tight encounter and adding another disappointing conclusion to a JPT campaign for Carlisle.

Nobes' Prediction: Brentford 2 Carlisle United 1

JPT Final - Brentford vs. Carlisle

With Brentford and Carlisle United meeting at Wembley for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday, Turls gives his thoughts ahead of the showpiece occasion.

As I sit and hide from angry Sheffield Wednesday fans in my underground bunker, eating tins of red kidney beans and drinking cans of Shandy Bass, I came up with a foolproof plan of writing an article that can in no way vex the Megson Mob.

The Football League Trophy is being contested this weekend as North meets South at Wembley. This has no impact on Wednesday fans because they soon won't be in it as the glorious Gary Megson guides his mighty Owls to League One glory.

But enough about the Total Football that is being seen at Hillsborough and let's move on to the most magical day of the year: Football League Trophy Final Day.

Brentford make the short trip to Wembley to compete in their third JPT Final, having beaten Exeter in the Southern Final. The Bees had a few scares on the way, having to use the non-lottery that is penalties.

They've never won the Football League Trophy and will be looking to banish the demons of defeats in 1985 and 2001. They are a strong outfit and should cause some problems on their day.

They also have an almost identical record to their opponents and actually beat the boys from up North in their most recent fixture.

They'll certainly fancy their chances of walking away from Wembley with the trophy tucked under their collective arm.

I'm not going to dwell on Brentford too much though, because I want to talk about their opponents - who seem to be a permanent attendee of this occasions.

Carlisle United have been to the final of this competition six times. Six! That's twice more than any other club and yet they need a victory to become the competition's most successful team.

Despite going to the national stadium more times than a Club Wembley member, Carlisle have only won the competition once, and that was back in 1997.

Carlisle will be seeking to avoid a repeat of last year's defeat in the final

The Cumbrians got to the final last year, where they had their asses handed to them by Southampton. I happened to be in Cumbria on the day of the final, as I was visiting my fiance's family.

It wasn't a good day, mainly because they thought I wanted Saints to win because I was more southern than they are - and also because I had predicted them to win, comfortably.

Anyway, that's not important. Carlisle are a club who seem to focus on this Trophy every year. They live for the competition.

Why? Is it because they think that they don't have the resources to fight for promotion? Is it because they realise they are too good to get dragged into a relegation battle?

Or is it because the majority of their players recognise that this competition may be their only chance to win a trophy at Wembley?

I don't know the answer to any of those questions, but I do know this - Carlisle United love the Football League Trophy.

I've covered my passion for the JPT before, and Nobes will be putting up his beautiful preview of the game later in the week - if he doesn't I'll give him a kicking.

Carlisle need to win for two reasons - firstly by winning they will become the most successful club in the history of the competition and they need to forget about the three defeats since their last triumph.

Secondly, I'm visiting the fiance's family again this weekend. If they don't win, I reckon the wedding might be off!

Turls' Prediction: Brentford 0 Carlisle United 2

Stuck In A League You Can't Get Out Of

After Grimsby part company with manager Neil Woods, Nobes considers why relegated Football League clubs find it so hard to bounce back quickly and gain promotion from the Conference.

Neil Woods was unable to keep Grimsby up or get them challenging for promotion

Out with the Woods, but not yet out of them. Grimsby's decision to part ways with boss Neil Woods came as little surprise.

However, nor should their struggle to mount any kind of promotion challenge in this year's Conference come as a major shock. The top tier of Non League football is notoriously difficult to escape at the first time of asking.

Indeed, since the introduction of automatic promotion and relegation between the Football and Non Leagues 24 years ago, just four teams have managed to achieve that particular feat.

When you consider that two of those instant returns, by Lincoln and Darlington, came in the first three years, and recent statistics are made all the more damning.

It has been the same story after the introduction of a two-up two-down in 2003/4. The first two years saw Shrewsbury and Carlisle win promotion at the first time of asking. Since then though, no club has managed it.

To put that into context, in the last five seasons five sides in the Championship, three in League One, and four in League Two have all done what no relegated team into the Conference has accomplished.

True, the obvious point to make would be all three higher divisions offer at least one more promotion place, and a couple in the case of League Two.

However, when you consider that very few relegated sides even challenge for a place in the Conference play offs, the issue of how many teams get to go up doesn't really figure in the debate.

The stats show that the Conference is the most difficult division to instantly gain promotion from - as Woods and Grimsby have found to their respective cost.

It's been a bumpy ride for the Mariners, who saw the curtain come down on their century in the Football League in May after an horrific season which saw them, at one point, go 25 games without winning.

However, if they thought that life would get easier as a big fish in a small pond, the Lincolnshire outfit have been given a rude awakening. In fact, their results paint a typical picture of a Football League club trying to adjust to life in the Non Leagues.

It's not as though results have been disastrous, they have taken four points off big-spending Crawley and kept two clean sheets in the process. High flying Luton, Wrexham and Newport have also all been seen off at Blundell Park this term.

Contrast that though, with embarrassing defeats to the likes of Tamworth and Hayes & Yeading. Struggling sides Southport, Eastbourne, and Barrow have all returned from a trip to the North Sea coast with a point to show for their efforts.

For fans whose club were, ten years ago, rubbing shoulders with some of England's finest in the Championship, this season they've seen Town fail to record victories at places like Gateshead and Forest Green Rovers.

The feats of Shrewsbury and Carlisle have proved hard for others to match since

Perhaps this is a major part of the problem which holds back relegated sides though. Nowhere else can clubs enter a lower division with such a superiority complex and expectation of success.

Most Football League fans probably couldn't even tell you where Forest Green are from, let alone expect their side to return from a visit to their trip to the Gloucestershire Cotswolds without maximum spoils.

It's part of the culture shock of adapting to life in the Non Leagues. Travelling to small, ramshackle grounds with antiquated facilities and some teams whose home support is the kind taken away from home in the League.

Fans have high hopes and expectations that such sides will be easily swotted aside - and players must undoubtedly learn to cope with the pressure that they are under.

They're also aware that the longer they remain in the Conference, the harder it becomes to escape - making the stakes in that first season all the more higher - and all the more difficult to meet.

Fans must also come to terms with games against their side being treated almost as cup finals. Non League stalwarts enjoy nothing more than taking a big Football League scalp - and cutting some egos down to size in the process.

It's also not uncommon for smaller sides to travel away and park the bus, supporters' coach, as well as their entire team and fan base in front of their goal in an attempt to claim a point.

Trying to break down such defensive tactics is hard enough - and the longer it goes on the more frustrated fans with high expectations come, and soon playing at home becomes more of a hindrance than an advantage.

Grimsby have only lost twice on home soil this term, but the seven draws at Blundell Park have undoubtedly been key in why they find themselves nine points off the play offs in 9th, albeit with a couple of games in hand.

Throw in an early exit in the FA Cup and a going out of the FA Trophy after a humiliating loss at Chasetown last month, and Woods's job always appeared to be hanging by a thread.

Now under-fire chairman, John Fenty, has the opportunity to make the right appointment to guide Town back into the Football League at the earliest opportunity.

He will be well advised to take his time when deciding his next manager though, as a quick look around the Conference Premier shows a whole host of ex-Football League clubs struggling to find their way back.

Mansfield are now in their third season in the Conference, posting finishes of 12th, 9th, and they currently lie in 13th. A fourth try to escape awaits the Stags next season.

Cambridge have spent the majority of this term looking over their shoulders towards the bottom, and will reflect on successive play off final defeats in 2008 and 2009 as hugely missed opportunities.

Last year's play off winners Oxford spent four seasons in the Conference

Same with York. Last season's play off final losers to Oxford are now in their seventh season in the Conference and as well as another play off appearance in 2007, they have also ended up in the bottom half on three occasions.

Wrexham are only now making an impact in the top five in their third season in the fifth tier, and Darlington - relegated alongside the Mariners last term - are only in mid table and finding life much tougher than they did in the '80s.

I must admit, I was someone who expected the Quakers to have performed better than they have with experienced and proven Conference manager Mark Cooper at the helm.

However, it has taken him time to turn around the sinking ship in the North East which fell to relegation with barely a whimper 12 months ago.

It's true to say as well as that, like the Quakers, often relegated Football League clubs enter the Conference in a shambolic state on the pitch and in financial disarray off it.

The loss of revenue relegation can cause inevitably means a turnover in playing squad, which can often mean a slow start as players gel and adapt to a new set-up.

No matter their size and history, they are simply not in a condition to quickly adapt to the rough and tumble and rigours of the great unknown that is the Non League game - and it shows.

And even when they do, the pressure to succeed can get the better of even the most illustrious and big clubs - Oxford took four years to escape the Conference.

Even the Luton side which, barring a 30 point deduction, would have finished in mid table in League Two in 2009 could only hold down a play off place last season - where they failed to progress through the end of season lottery.

Part of their problem had been holding onto a manager, in Mick Harford, who was so woefully incapable of orchestrating a promotion push. The same could probably be said of Woods - who was fortunate to keep his job after presiding over Grimsby's easily avoidable relegation.

Were the ageing Jim Smith and Brian Little really the men to lead Oxford and Wrexham's respective first promotion pushes, too? It was no surprise that the Oxen, when appointing the canny Chris Wilder, finally did escape the Non Leagues.

Even Shrewsbury had the foresight to hire an experienced Non League name in Jimmy Quinn to guide them back to the Football League at the first time of asking in 2004 - before rightly jettisoning him after struggling to make the step up.

Grimsby must now be similarly pragmatic - looking to select someone well versed in coping with the unique demands of the Conference, and winning promotion from it.

Stalybridge's Jim Harvey has an impressive CV at that level, and current Luton assistant Gary Brabin led Cambridge into the top five. Martin Foyle, in charge at York last season, has also been linked with the job and would seem a decent pick.

The wrong choice, and the Mariners risk settling in too comfortably to life in the Conference. Then the only Cod Army on the march to the Football League will be that of ambitious Fleetwood.

The Great Escapees

After Crystal Palace earn a precious win over drop zone rivals Sheffield United, Nobes looks at the clubs who have made escaping from relegation a habit.

Darren Ambrose's goal helped keep Palace up at Sheffield Wednesday's expense

Battling a team from the Steel City to avoid relegation to the third tier isn't new territory for Crystal Palace.

Last season, amid their financial meltdown, the Londoners sent Sheffield Wednesday down after a final day shoot out between the pair at Hillsborough.

Their 1-0 win at the weekend over Sheffield United opened up a five point gap between themselves and the Blades, and could prove crucial in maintaining their Championship status after a poor start to the campaign.

Palace also staged a great escape in 2001 to avoid relegation from the Championship, and will be hoping to make it a hat trick of successes come May.

Here's my rundown of some of the other teams who have made a habit out of fighting - and usually winning - battles against the drop.


Portsmouth - 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006

Three times in the 1990s, Pompey survived relegation to the third tier of English football on the final day of the season.

Firstly in 1996, a 1-0 win at Huddersfield along with Millwall failing to beat Ipswich saw them finish above the Lions on goal difference.

Two years later, and they were at it again. It had been a disastrous season with Terry Venables ending his involvement at Fratton Park and Alan Ball returning to the club to take over from Terry Fenwick.

Once more a final day win in West Yorkshire, this time 3-1 at Bradford, helped stave off relegation and send Manchester City tumbling down to League One.

Twelve months on, and Portsmouth went into receivership and would later only just avoid going out of business. On the pitch, Pompey finished the season in a four way tie on 47 points with Port Vale, QPR, and Bury.

However, it was the latter - with the worst goals scored record that took the tumble and Portsmouth were once again saved.

In 2001, they dropped into the relegation zone in the final week of the season and had to beat Barnsley in their last game to give themselves a shot of survival.

Fortunately, the Reds rolled over and Pompey's 3-0 win was enough to guarantee them a place in the Championship as Huddersfield went down instead.

Finally, during their top flight spell in the previous decade, Harry Redknapp engineered a stunning late rally in 2006 to keep Pompey in the Premier League. Where they remained until last season.


Carlisle United - 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009

No club masters in brinkmanship like the Cumbrians. It's an expertise only rivalled by their special ability to perform in the Football League Trophy.

The first of their great escapes came in 1992, when they finished bottom of the entire Football League yet avoided demotion to the Conference after Aldershot went out of business.

Their next great escape, and possibly the most famous of all, came in 1999. A 95th minute winner from emergency loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass kept the Cumbrians in the Football League at the expense of Scarborough.

Twelve months later and they did it again, this time edging out Chester City by virture of goals scored to retain their place in the 92.

With finances biting and the club coming close to going out of business, Ian Atkins's side survived by three points in the 2000/1 campaign despite winning the fewest matches in their division.

Two years later and, in the first year of two-up-two-down between the Football and Non Leagues, the Cumbrians finished 22nd, just a point above relegated Exeter.

They had won a vital relegation decider 3-2 against Shrewsbury in their penultimate match to secure their Football League place.

Finally their luck ran out in 2004 though. An horrific start to the season saw them lose 18 of their first 21 games. Paul Simpson's men staged an heroic second half revival, but this time fell through the trapdoor by just four points.

Their most recent escape came in League One in 2009 when they went into the last game of the season needing a win and other results to go their way. They duly beat Millwall 2-0 at Brunton Park to edge out Northampton by a point.

The most famous great escape of all? Jimmy Glass for Carlisle in 1999

Hartlepool United - 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010

Towards the end of the last Millennium, Pools were fighting relegation battles towards the bottom of the basement division. Now it's the third tier where they try and stave off the drop.

In 1997, they ended up just four points above bottom place Hereford. No League Two side lost more games than United that term and with three games left they sat 23rd.

However, successive wins ensured they were safe going into the final day of the season.

Two years later, and Pools were propping up the rest of the Football League at Easter and looking doomed to relegation. New boss Chris Turner inspired his team to 11 points from their last seven games though to retain their spot in the division, ending up 22nd.

More recently, they have found themselves towards the wrong end of League One, including suffering relegation from the third tier in 2006. In 2009 an end of season slump saw them avoid the drop by just a single point.

Last term, Hartlepool were safe going into the final game until a points deduction for playing an ineligible player earlier in the campaign saw them thrown back into the relegation mix.

There they battled hard to gain a 0-0 draw against Brentford and avoid relegation by virtue of a superior goal difference to Gillingham.


Torquay United - 1987, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2006

The Gulls had finished bottom of the Football League for consecutive seasons in 1985 and 1986 but twice won their re-election bid.

The last side to finish bottom in back-to-back years, Workington, hadn't, so United were fortunate to still be in the Football League when automatic relegation was introduced in 1986/7.

They were even more fortunate when, on the final day, a police dog, Bryn, bit a Torquay player, producing enough injury time for them to score a dramatic last gasp equaliser against Crewe.

It secured the point they needed to stay up and send unlucky Lincoln down.

In 1993 they were indebted to a short spell in the dugout from Neil Warnock to guide the Devonians to safety in the basement division, but in 1996 they were struggling once more and finished bottom of the entire pack.

However, Conference winners Stevenage Borough were denied promotion because of the condition of their ground, and Torquay were given a reprieve.

In 2000/1, their fight against the drop went down to the very last game of the season in a final day shootout against Barnet with the losers going down to the Conference.

They raced into a 3-0 half time lead and withstood a second half comeback to see the match out 3-2 and send the Bees down.

Finally, in 2006, United sat six points short of safety with just five games remaining. However, Ian Atkins masterminded four wins and a draw to ensure they finished three points clear of the drop zone in 20th.

A year later, and the Gulls - mismanaged both on and off the pitch - finally took the plunge and spent two years in the Conference after finishing bottom of the division.

Gulls fans invade the pitch after securing survival yet again in 2006

Exeter City - 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2010

The 1990s had begun brightly for Exeter City - they won the League Two title to gain elevation to the third tier.

However, once there, they struggled and twice came close to taking the drop.

Firstly, in 1992, they went into the final day of the season still in danger of relegation. Fortunately, while they were thumped 5-2 at Darlington, rivals Bury lost as well to go down by just two points.

The following season they finished just three points clear of relegated Preston. However, they were not so lucky in 1994 and did eventually drop down to the basement division.

There they ended up rock bottom of the entire Football League at the end of the 1994/5 season.

The Grecians almost went of business during the campaign, but were spared the Non Leagues after the Moss Rose ground of Conference champions Macclesfield controversially failed to meet the Football League's requirements.

They were not so lucky in 2003 though, as, in the first year of two-up-two-down, Exeter became the first side to finish 23rd and be relegated from the basement division.

Having bounced back to the Football League, last season Exeter staged another escape from the drop when a late winner in their final game against Huddersfield saw City stay in League One by a single point.


Crewe Alexandra - 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008

Dario Gradi's distinguished reign as Crewe boss has become synonymous with unearthing talented young players, an attractive brand of football, and the Alex punching above their weight.

Inevitably therefore, they have been involved in the odd battle against the drop, some won successfully and some not.

In 1999, the Railwaymen finished just a point above the Championship relegation zone in 18th - inspired by a late rally of ten points from their last four games to ensure their safety.

Just two points separated Alex in 18th from third bottom Walsall in 2004 as Gradi once again managed to defy the odds to keep the Cheshire club in the second tier.

Twelve months later and they staged a dramatic last day escape as a 2-1 win over Coventry, coupled with Gillingham drawing 2-2 at Nottingham Forest, saw Crewe finish above the Gills thanks to a one better goal difference.

They weren't so lucky in 2006, finally succumbing to the drop. And in 2008 they fought to retain League One football at Gresty Road.

Alex finished up just two points clear of relegated Bournemouth, despite the Cherries being deducted ten points for entering administration. A year later though, and relegation did catch up with them.

A clear warning to any side constantly flirting with the drop. One year, it will catch up with you.

Tired Of Hanging Around

With Leeds and Norwich in the Championship, Bournemouth in League One, and League Two Oxford all vying for back-to-back promotions, Nobes looks back on other sides who've done the same in recent years - and what happened next.

Up from League One last year, Leeds and Norwich are fighting for successive promotions

Promotion for one, or both, of Leeds and Norwich at the end of this season would cap an incredible turnaround in fortunes at both Elland and Carrow Roads in the past two years.

The pair both won promotion from League One last term and have continued their momentum this term in challenging at the top end of the Championship. Successive elevations aren't out of the question.

League One Bournemouth, too, are also gunning for successive promotions after their against-all-odds promotion last season. Oxford, after their exile in the Conference, have also returned stronger and are mounting a play off push.

While continued success may sound like a dream scenario though, is there an argument for rising too far too soon? Here's my look at some of the other sides who've won back-to-back promotions and how they fared afterwards.


Watford 1997-1999

Graham Taylor, in his second spell in charge at Vicarage Road, guided the Hornets to the third tier title in 1997/8.

Twelve months later, and they had completed a return to the top flight for the first time in more than a decade - beating Bolton in the play off final.

However, after their quick ascent, they found themselves well short in the Premier League. Watford finished bottom, a full 12 points adrift of safety.

Relegated back down to the Championship, it took them another six years before they returned to the top tier for another single year.


Rotherham United 1999-2001

The Millers made it two promotions on the spin during the first managerial spell of current boss Ronnie Moore.

They finished runners-up in both the basement division and then, to everyone's surprise, in the third tier, too, as they returned to the Championship for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Despite small crowds and limited resources, there they remained for four seasons before tumbling back down the ladder due to financial problems.


Brighton & Hove Albion 2000-2002

Not since the mid-1980s during Oxford's rise up the footballing ladder had a team won successive championships.

That changed at the beginning of the new Millennium when Brighton went from the basement division to the Championship - winning both divisions along the way.

Firstly, Micky Adams took Albion to the 1999/2000 League Two title and then, when he left mid-way through the next campaign to join Leicester, replacement Peter Taylor kept the Seagulls on course for consecutive titles and promotions.

Their sudden rise, allied with cramped facilities at the Withdean, ensured Brighton were instantly relegated - although they did manage to bounce back at the first time of asking under Mark McGhee's stewardship.

Currently top of League One - dreaming of a return to the Championship ready for playing in their brand new ground at Falmer.


Doncaster Rovers 2002-2004

Rovers spent five years in the Conference after falling out of the Football League in 1998.

However, they became the first ever Conference play off winners in 2003.

In unknown waters, people predicted the second team to come up to struggle, but Donny shocked everyone by romping away with the League Two crown.

Dave Penney's side comfortably held their own in the third tier before winning promotion to their current position in the Championship in 2008 under his successor, Sean O'Driscoll.


Hull City 2003-2005

The year Doncaster won the basement division title, many people's favourites had been big spending Hull City.

With the experienced Peter Taylor at the helm, and playing in the brand new KC Stadium, the Tigers had to settle for second spot and promotion though.

Twelve months later, and they had made it successive promotions - as runners-up in League One to Luton. Taylor ensured City stabilised in the second tier before Phil Brown led them into the top flight in 2008 for the first time in their history.

They hung around for a couple of seasons before falling back down last May.


Southend United 2004-2006

After years of mid-table mediocrity in League Two, local lad Steve Tilson engineered a dramatic turnaround in fortunes at Southend.

The Shrimpers were victorious in the 2005 play-off final against Lincoln to gain elevation into League One.

There, they shocked everyone by winning the title - pipping local rivals Colchester to boot - and gain a return to the Championship for the first time in a decade.

They only lasted a year there, and although they went close to returning, off-field financial troubles saw them relegated back down to League Two for this season.


Carlisle United 2004-2006

The masters of avoiding relegation from the Football League finally paid the price for previous close-calls in 2003 when a disastrous start cost the Cumbrians their League Two place.

They bounced back at the first time of asking - Paul Simpson's men beating Stevenage in the play off final.

United then followed in Doncaster's footsteps by winning the League Two title the very next season.

Now firmly consolidated in the third tier of English football - as well as performing their usual JPT heroics.


Peterborough United 2007-2009

Ambitious owner Darragh MacAnthony fuelled back-to-back promotions in the Fens as Posh made it from League Two to the Championship.

Darren Ferguson led the Cambridgeshire side to runners-up positions behind Milton Keynes and then Leicester in successive seasons to return United to the second tier for the first time since 1994.

However, Posh struggled badly last term, culminating in Ferguson getting the boot and three other managers failing to stave off relegation.

Now back in League One and back under Ferguson's control.


Exeter City 2007-2009

The Devon side were the first victims of two-up two-down between the Football League and Conference in 2003.

They remained there for five years, losing out in the 2007 play off final to Morecambe before 12 months later returning to Wembley and beating Cambridge to win promotion.

Paul Tisdale's Grecians then finished as runners-up in League Two behind Brentford as they secured a return to the third tier for the first time in 15 years.

They battled against the drop last term, eventually ensuring survival on the final day to secure another year in League One.


What do we learn from a look in the history books? Certainly for Norwich and Leeds, winning successive promotions into the Premier League is rare. Watford found the step-up too big, but then they are a much smaller club.

They would find it hard, like all promoted sides in the top flight do, but would stand a better chance than most of staying up.

For Bournemouth, clubs of similar stature like Peterborough and Rotherham have found the going tough after their rapid ascent into the Championship. With their financial limitations, the Cherries probably would too.

Oxford have cause to be optimistic though. Plenty of promoted Conference clubs have gone straight through the basement division and none of them have been relegated immediately.

With their resources, they should feel confident that a second successive promotion can be the platform for establishing themselves back in the third tier.

I Can't Make You Love Me

Nobes looks at some of the reasons why managers like Carlisle's Greg Abbott, despite winning games, still struggle to win around fans.

Greg Abbott and Graham Kavanagh - but who do fans give credit to?

If the key to football management is about winning rather than losing, then that applies to fans almost as much as games.

Lose support from the terraces, and a manager's days are numbered. Win the affection of your club's fans though, and you buy precious leeway for making mistakes and not getting results.

To an outsider it can often seem ludicrous.

Managers so obviously out of their depth can receive unwavering support from fans despite their lack of success. Likewise, opposition fans can be left bemused by fans of a successful club who still haven't taken to the man in the dugout.

Sometimes it can be as simple as fans failing to take to a manager's style of play. Despite taking them to the fringes of the play offs, Oldham fans never took to Ronnie Moore and his direct football.

Equally, despite a poor record in the job, Darren Ferguson's philosophy of playing attractive, attacking football seems to have curried favour with Preston fans willing to accept defeats as long as they're entertained in the process.

Buying into a club's ethos, therefore, is key to winning around fans. Any manager who goes into a club like Norwich or Nottingham Forest will find passing football more of a pre-requisite than an optional bonus to points on the board.

Not having any past connections with rival clubs undoubtedly helps too. Bristol City's appointment of Tony Pulis in 1999 always appeared misguided.

The Welshman had enjoyed two spells with City's neighbours Rovers and winning around the Ashton Gate faithful, despite his good record at Gillingham, never seemed likely. A few months later, he was gone.

Another Welshman, Simon Davey, never managed to fully win around the support of Barnsley supporters unconvinced at the former Academy Manager's appointment at Oakwell.

Even after taking them to the FA Cup semi finals in his first full season, his more pragmatic style of play compared to the free-flowing attacking game practised by his predecessor Andy Ritchie never won around Reds fans.

While results ultimately cost him his job last season, disenchantment with things on the pitch wasn't the only factor in his dismissal. He had failed to convince supporters he was anything more than someone promoted beyond his ability.

You know football management really is an impossible job when fans are chanting against you before you've ever been appointed though. Some managers, it seems, come with a health warning.

Ipswich fans protested vehemently against the appointment of Joe Royle in 2001. As well as once playing for East Anglian rivals Norwich, he had endured run-ins with the Portman Road faithful while manager of Manchester City.

There were also concerns about the brand of football that fans brought up on the passing style of Sir Bobby Robson and George Burley would be forced to watch.

As it turned out, despite financial problems, Royle twice led Town into the play offs only to lose in the semi finals. They were also described as the best footballing side in the division by opposition managers, including Preston's Billy Davies.

Although some fans were still happy to see the back of Royle in 2006, it's worth pointing out that, despite significant money spent, the Suffolk outfit haven't finished in a higher position since his departure.

Ipswich fans protested against Joe Royle before he was even appointed

For whatever reason, some fans seem unwilling to give their manager a chance before a ball has even been kicked.

In the really extreme cases though, a manager can achieve results on the pitch, adopt a decent style of football, and work to a budget, and still not win around many supporters.

Which is the scenario, perhaps unbelievably, still going on at Carlisle United.

After Saturday's win at League One giants Sheffield Wednesday, the Cumbrians sit joint-top of the division and are one of only two sides yet to taste defeat in the third tier this term.

All of which should be a glowing testament to manager Greg Abbott. Especially so when you consider United were in a relegation fight when he took over in 2008.

After engineering a final day escape from the drop, he took them to a respectable 14th place last term as well as an appearance at Wembley, where they lost to Southampton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

However, despite the promising start to this season, some of the Brunton Park faithful are still unwilling to heap praise on the manager.

An American businessman, Dwight Morrow, once joked that the world was split into two groups: "People who do things, and people who get credit." It is something Abbott can probably well identify with.

Despite wins on the pitch, perceived poor PR skills and frustration at his diamond formation tactics have seen some fans struggle to warm to the 46-year-old.

Instead, they put much of the Cumbrians' good form down to the work of assistant manager and former Republic of Ireland international, Graham Kavanagh.

A change to a more positive approach - as well as playing more football - is, they argue, not the work of the manager, but his assistant.

Of course, it's virtually impossible to know exactly where, and how much, credit should be directed for Carlisle's unbeaten beginning to the campaign.

It seems stubborn at best and naive at worst to believe Abbott deserves less praise than his staff though. In the end, the pride of some fans will never allow themselves to admit their initial opinions were wrong.

Ultimately though, it need not matter who gets the praise as long as Carlisle maintain their assault on a place in the Championship over the coming months.

Although, if so, the manager may find himself winning around even his harshest critics.

And, if not, he can bear in mind the thoughts of scholar Benjamin Jowett who claimed: "The way to get things done is not to mind who gets credit for doing them." Abbott should agree.

Fan Files: Carlisle United

Carlisle's appearance in this Sunday's JPT final is their fifth - a record for the competition.

If they can upset the odds and beat Southampton, they will officially become the most successful team in the competition's history.

So, with that moment of history in mind, our Fan Files turn their attention towards the Cumbrians.

United fan David Jackson has been following his local side from being a youngster in the late '80s.

Over the years he's seen many amazing moments following his side including goalkeeper Jimmy Glass's injury time goal to keep them in the Football League and a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out against Aldershot in the Conference play-offs.

His worst period supporting Carlisle was the summer of 2001 when former chairman Michael Knighton seemed intent on running the club into the ground with the sacking of manager Ian Atkins and destruction of the squad.

So, Dave, you're through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final this weekend. It's a competition where Carlisle have had had good success in, in the past. You must really enjoy it?

This is, I think, my 28th consecutive match in the competition. Since 1995, I think I've only missed six JPT matches - and most of them were because of a two year spell where I was working and couldn't get to games.

However, I'll usually go whether it's as part of an 800 crowd at Accrington, a trek to Chesterfield or a short trip to Morecambe. I just enjoy cup games on the whole so I go to most of them whether they're the League Cup, FA Cup or JPT.

I find cup games have a different aspect to them than league games. In a league match making sure you don't get beaten seems to be the sole main priority these days. Get a win if you can, but first make sure you don't lose.

When it's a cup game though, teams try to win. Even if you're playing away to a side two leagues higher you can see your club have a go and there's no pressure on losing the game.

Mid-table Carlisle United are looking forward to a trip to Wembley

I can enjoy a drama, stressed-filled second leg of the area final clinging onto a desperate lead as much as a first round game when you can sit in comfort with a small number of fans, no pressure, and just enjoy the game.

What do you make to sides then who don't the JPT seriously as a competition? Does it just add extra cup games that only generate money when you get to the final? Or can it liven up a mid-table campaign - as Carlisle are having?

On the club side of things, finances is what makes me wonder why clubs don't take it seriously, especially these days when finances are so tight.

I think we're going to make about £300,000 from the match, can many clubs in Leagues One and Two afford to toss that into the nearest dustbin?

I have also always thought cup games don't affect league performances. We have on three occasions got to the JPT final and also won promotion.

Birmingham, Bristol Rovers and MK Dons are all other examples I can think of who've done the same. Many losing area finalists also go up in the same season.

My main reason for the competition is because it's a memory. You can follow a side for 20 years and get good games and bad, but you only get a few lifetime memories in football.

This is what these days are for - memories you can look back on in five, 10, 20 years. I can still remember going to Wembley in the 1994 final.

I can still remember the trips to Cardiff - the Millennium Stadium, the match day, the whole weekend. These are things you can look on and say you where there.

Let's talk about your manager, Greg Abbott. He kept you up last season, he's got you into the top half this term, and through to the JPT Final too. He must be popular with the fans?

Considering achievement-wise he's done probably better than most in League One, he's not that popular.

The Wembley trip and a couple of recent wins will certainly buy him time to get to the summer and try again, but he's been up and down.

Certainly, I'd be honest and say he's done better this season than last. Last term was horrendous.

He inherited a squad with no morale and no teamwork - added nothing and then annoyed fans with stupid comments, bad interviews, and poor signings. How he survived to this season I am unsure, as no fans wanted him.

Boss Greg Abbott has taken the Cumbrians to the Final in his first full season

This season has been a mixed bag. I think on two occasions he has been just a defeat away from the sack with 95 per cent of the fans wanting him ousted. Only for him to then get the vital win at the right time to keep him plugging along.

The cup runs have been his saving grace this year - giving fans big days out to look forward to and also making the club about £500,000.

That's probably made a few fans warm to him, but I don't we're much better than last season, the league is just much, much worse.

We secured survival to me last midweek [a 1-0 win over Yeovil] so he should fair better come the end of the season. His away tactics are terrible though - he likes to go for a 0-0 draw away from home.

They just don't make you want to go and watch us away from Brunton Park. Plus, we have needed a big, stronger striker for about two years and then, finally, after a year of rubbish we find in Vincent Pericard.

When he went though, he didn't bring in a replacement having said he would do. Now he's been forced to because of injuries, has brought in another striker who fits the bill and, hey presto, two wins in two since then!

It's these bits of bad management - like dropping one of our best players for nine games in-favour of his favourites - and terrible interviews which turn you against him.

He's got another season to try and win fans over though, so we'll see.

So, looking ahead to Sunday's final. Do you think you can cause an upset and beat Southampton?

Yes, I think we're destined to win this one. We are one win away from being the best Football League Trophy side ever. We have been in the most area finals with seven, the most finals with five, and just need to get joint-most wins.

Against us is a team with a lot of money, and we have not got a good final record.

Graham Kavanagh is one of the experienced heads in the Carlisle team

However, they've lost a few players and the big thing with our squad is that it's filled with ex-higher league players like Ian Harte, Scott Dobie, and Graham Kavanagh.

Wembley usually brings out the best of these players and if you can get them performing like they did in the prime, and then guys like Peter Murphy and Danny Livesey performing as they can - we have a strong side on the day.

Away from Sunday, ten years ago Carlisle were battling to stay in the Football League, now you're spending a fourth straight season in League One and only missed out on the Championship in the play-offs in 2008. Can you make the step-up to the second tier in the future.

No. Football has changed too much ow and it's who you have financially, rather than the size of club, which dictates how you do. We have no rich owner - just local businessmen who keep the club ticking over.

We have made a profit in about five out of the last six seasons, which is good, but the one bad season last year - when we made a loss - nearly crippled us.

We just don't have the backing to afford making huge financial losses over two to three season to build a top League One side.

Leagues One and Two will always be our level. However, considering in the last 20 years we've mostly been struggling in League Two, we've progressed.

Your club will always be famous for that Jimmy Glass in 1999 of course. Do you ever feel you could follow the Cumbrians for another 50 years but never experience a moment that will surpass that one.

I don't think so, because I think I've seen a couple of moment just as good.

In terms of the actual context then you're probably right. It will never happened again because it's a set-up that was once in a lifetime.

Jimmy Glass's goal - the most famous moment in League Two history?

Glass came in after the transfer deadline had passed due to our loan keeper at the time being recalled. This was the first ever 'emergency loan' used - and that rule only came in at the start of that very season.

Our game was also only still going after Scarborough's had finished because, by chance, a Plymouth player broke his leg during the game so this left us knowing what needed to be done.

All the situations just point to fate work a bit of magic to set up a moment that will never be repeated. However, the penalty shoot out at Aldershot was cracking drama.

We were 3-1 down with only two penalties left each. They had to miss both and did, we had to score both, and did. Then we won in sudden death.

Matt Glennon's injury time penalty save at Mansfield which stopped us being relegated - for that weekend at least - had the same impact at the time.

The Jimmy Glass moment will always be looked back on though because it was the right moment at the right time with a unique set-up and the perfect conclusion.

You've seen your team play in three different divisions over a long period of time. How do you think the game in the lower leagues has developed both on and off the pitch over that time?

Facilities would be the main thing. When I started going, away ends were a scabby bit of terrace with a toilet that was a wall with a gutter at the bottom. The food was non-existent and you were lucky to ever get away seats.

Grounds have drastically changed. I missed a lot of the character of the old grounds - and were tied to their own clubs and felt like they were their grounds - but the facilities were shocking.

Carlisle's Brunton Park is a unique mix of the old and new in football stadia

As for the football, well, it's improved a lot to be fair. In the early 90s it was a long ball era of sides who came to your ground to sit back, whack your players to bits, and hoof the ball to a big lump up front to nod down to the faster player next to him.

Now, teams do try and play a passing game. It isn't always perfect, but teams do try and get some footballers in.

I do think wingers years ago were better than those these days. I think that is a general thing in football too as, because top sides have found foreigners better for the skillful positions, it's seen a drop in quality in those positions from the top flight youth players.

Which means less for us, better strikers and defenders have to look like The Incredible Hulk to succeed.

I think there are more tactics in the game now compared to back then, but I think teams are more negative these days than they were years ago.

Also, I think atmospheres were a lot better years ago and managers had more links to fans too because in them days managers were not sacked within a season.

Finally then, Dave, what's the best thing about being a Carlisle United fan?

This is going to be only the second time in 22 years I've seen us finish mid-table, and even then it's a season of big games, cup finals and exciting moments.

So, I'd say the fact the best thing is that, whether good or bad, we usually have something happen every season. Maybe they'll give me a heart attack one day, but it's better than having nothing to talk about during each season.

Dave, thanks for talking with us. Good luck on Sunday and for the rest of the season!

JPT Week

The countdown is well and truly on to this weekend's showpiece final as Carlisle United and Southampton go head to head in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final.

It's the most prestigious piece of silverware in the lower leagues and all this week on Soccer AM/MW we'll be building up to the big day.

For the two League One sides there's no place in Europe or mega prize money granted to the winner.

Instead, they'll be able to console themselves with knowing that they are the Football League's kings of knockout football.

It could be a momentous day for Carlisle, who are making their fifth appearance in the Final and looking for their second trophy win.

Former Premier League side Southampton have reached the showpiece occasion in their JPT debut and will start as favourites on Sunday.

Over the next few days we'll be offering a comprehensive guide to the final.

That includes a look back at classic finals of days gone by, an in-depth look at both teams, a full match preview, and our Fan Files turns the spotlight on Carlisle.

Soccer AM/MW - the place for all your JPT needs.

Here's everything from the Week:

Monday: Saints to go marching on?
Tuesday: Cumbrians aim for upset
Wednesday: Carlisle United vs. Southampton - Wembley History
Thursday: Classic JPT Finals
Friday: JPT Final: Preview | Review

Big Match Review: Yeovil 3 Carlisle 1

League One

Yeovil Town 3-1 Carlisle United

Saturday October 17, Huish Park (Att: 4,333)

Yeovil recorded an important victory over fellow League One strugglers Carlisle as two goals from Ryan Mason helped heap the pressure on under-fire Cumbrians boss Greg Abbott.

The Glovers began the stronger of the two sides and took a deserved lead after just 13 minutes. Craig Alcock's through-ball split the United backline to unleash Mason, who showed the required composure to fire past Lenny Pidgely in the Carlisle goal.

And the home side doubled their advantage just before the break through the same player. This time Andy Welsh's first time reverse pass beating the Cumbrians' offside trap leaving the on-running Mason all the time in the world to notch up a second.

However, the visitors were handed a route back into the match early in the second half when Terrell Forbes's clumsy challenge on Scott Dobie in the box saw Carlisle awarded a penalty.

And, although Town keeper Alex McCarthy guessed the right way, he was powerless to stop former Leeds man Ian Harte reducing the arrears with over half an hour remaining.

Yeovil weren't to be denied though, and more slack defending from Abbott's men allowed the Somerset club a third three minutes from time. Kieran Murtagh with far too much time and space to convert a cross from the left from close range.

A third home win of the season for Terry Skiverton's side who move up to 14th, but Carlisle and their manager remain under pressure, entrenched in the bottom four.

Big Match Preview

League One

Yeovil Town vs. Carlisle United

Saturday October 17, 15:00, Huish Park

Two of League One's strugglers meet this weekend as under-fire Greg Abbott takes his Carlisle side on the long trip south to face Yeovil Town.

Results in midweek saw the Cumbrians slip into the division's bottom four for the first time this season and, after only just avoiding the drop last season, Abbott is under pressure to turn things around.

Carlisle are without a win since the beginning of September, and have recorded just two league victories all term - against fellow strugglers Stockport and Tranmere.

Most of their problems have stemmed from poor form at the usually formidable Brunton Park, with four defeats already. However, United are unbeaten in five of their six away trips in League One this term, so will be confident when hitting the road.

Abbott has been strengthening his squad this week, with the free transfer of former Portsmouth and Stoke striker Vincent Pericard, who is likely to feature up-front with six-goal man Scott Dobie.

Other leading lights in the Cumbrian side include former Preston winger Joe Anyinsah, midfield man Graham Kavanagh, and the ex-Leeds defender Ian Harte, whose speciality from set-plays has already seen him register three goals this term.

If Abbott is under pressure though, his opposite number at Yeovil, Terry Skiverton, enjoys the support of the Glovers faithful. The league's only official player-manager, the Yeovil veteran has so far been reluctant to get on the pitch himself.

Skiverton and Abbott are under varying degrees of pressure

Currently lying just a point above the drop-zone, the Somerset club are unbeaten in their last four matches, including drawing their last three. Indeed, draws have been the common feature of their season so far, with only two wins - against Tranmere and Brentford.

Striker Gavin Tomlin, with three goals to date, is the Glovers most potent threat going forwards, and other notable names include former Bristol City midfielder Scott Murray and midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala, currently in his second spell with the club.

Yeovil's form at Huish Park has been typically strong, suffering just one defeat - to high-flying Swindon Town, and will once again be crucial in their bid to avoid the drop.

It might be too a little early to describe this clash as a relegation six-pointer, but neither side can really afford to lose to a side likely to be around them come the business end of the season.

And with the two sides having recorded 11 draws between them this season, another stalemate looks on the cards this weekend.

Nobes' Prediction: Yeovil Town 1 Carlisle United 1