Carlisle City boss Jim Nichols has been reflecting on the club’s Northern League season which ended with a 3-2 home win over Northallerton.
Dan Kirkup, who had actually scored City’s first goal of the season, grabbed a late winner in the final fixture.
In between, Tom Mahone scored an equaliser after Northallerton had taken the lead and then Jordan Holt put them in front until the visitors levelled in the second-half.
Nichols said: “It was pleasing to finish the season with a win and confirm an eighth place finish. I think if anyone had offered us that at the start of the season we would have snapped their hands off.
“That is the first time a Cumbrian club has finished in the top half of the season since Celtic Nation over 10 years ago and they had big financial backing at the time.
“My assistant Alan Inglis and I have been involved for five years now and each season the club has achieved its highest ever league position. I suppose there is a stopping point for that but we will be working to improve again next season.
“It is tough at the top end of the Northern League and even Northallerton, who finished third bottom, have a budget which is five times ours.
“We will be starting to look at what we need for next season to strengthen the squad and will be trying to being in new players to help us achieve more progress.”