The journey was planned, the day was set out in glorious sunshine and the bag was packed full of treats including Fox's Galcier fruits and Mr Kipling Chocolate Chip bars for the trek up the M6.
Tim and Debs picked me up from Sixfields and we left Sixfields Travel Club in our wake as the early morning sun lit the path to the promised land of Brunton Park.
The journey was relatively quick and took a little over 3 and a half hours including one stop for a leg stretch and toilet break. By that I mean we simply used the lavatorial facilites, not that we smashed up the toilets.
By 11am we were in Carlisle city centre, desperately searching for a car parking spot. There was only 4 hours till kick off after all! Half an hour later and we were all parked up in a side street right near the ground. A stroll into town (passing a fantastically decorated Newcastle United fans' car)was followed by a much needed KFC meal. Debs was mistaken for a young child when offered the cheaper option and some free ice cream but it was declined.
Still with plenty of time to spare, we had a look around the city centre, witnessing a quite bizarre public performance from a saxaphonist (is that the right word for one who plays the saxaphone?) who was backing up some sort of theatrical actor's warblings. One hearing issue involved here though...we couldn't...as he was standing inside a dome like construction that kids were running around in...
Anyway...after a quick look in a pet shop it was time to head to the ground. I love how when you walk around in a different town in a visiting football shirt you get looked at like you've got three heads! We got the usual "thumbs down" taunts from passers by but shrugged off this barrage of abuse (a lot of people would have fallen to their knees with such tauntage and gone home in dispair).
So into the ground, a decent size but strangely the stand that we were in on the side of the pitch had been built far bigger than it needed to be, meaning that there were some seats that overlooked nothing but a warehouse!
On the pitch, the Cobblers lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Andy Holt missed out with injury so Luke Chambers deputised at right back. In the early going, the home side seemed to settle the better and Karl Hawley looked as dangerous in League One as he had done last season in League Two. But it was the Cobblers who provided the first goal threatening action as Luke Chambers powerfully headed towards goal from a corner but it was cleared off the line. The Cumbirans were looking lively though as it wasn't long before they provided some panic for the 300 or so travelling fans. A cross from the left was placed onto the head of the impressive Paul Murray and it looked to have wrong footed Mark Bunn in the Cobblers goal but he somehow managed to readjust and pull off a remarkable save. Gordon Banks eat your heart out!
The rest of the half was spent watching the comical game of "throwing the plastic football" put on by the Cobblers fans behind us. The game was cruelly ended though just before half time by the jobsworth stewards who took the ball away. Health and Safety issues of course!
Half time brought a change in the Cobblers line up as the uninspiring Sam Aiston was replaced by Ryan Gilligan and Gilly immediately made an impact. Picking the ball up on the right, he delivered his first touch to perfection to cross into the home side's area. It didn't look a danger and Tim even cried out "There's nobody in there" but a mix up between their defender and goalkeeper let in Scott McGleish who made the most of the chance and finished easily. 1-0 to the Town!
A fantastic start to the second half but it would be short lived joy. We should have had a free kick at one end as Crowe was taken down but the referee played on and Carlisle broke. A few quick passes later and it was 1-1 as Hawley shrugged off Chambers and finished past Bunn for 1-1.
As the game wore on, it was more and more tense as both sides looked for the winner. I got the sense that we were hanging on a bit towards the end as Carlisle threw cross after cross in but the superb Chambers, Dyche and Doig got everything out. We had chances as well and Chambers had a header cleared off the line but the game ended all square and we could go home happy with that against a side that should be in for a good season. Carlisle drop points at home for the first time this season and we remain unbeaten away from home.
After finally escaping from Carlisle, the long haul home began but again we encountered no problems and were back in Northampton by 9pm.
Overall a top day out and at least we got something from the long journey! Next up is Yeovil on Tuesday night as we look to end the awful home record this season!
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