Carlisle United and Morecambe both fell into the National League at the end of last season – but when their paths crossed again last night there was a large gap in their league positions.
United are battling in the play-offs while Morecambe are trapped in the drop zone fighting their third relegation in four years.
But the game at Brunton Park was much closer than some home fans might have expected as it took a goal in first-half injury time to win it for the Cumbrians.
Luke Armstrong was Carlisle’s hero when he got to low cross from Regan Linney to fire home the vital goal in the second minute of time added on.
They had other opportunities to extend that lead in the second-half but top scorer Linney put one effort straight at visiting keeper Jamal Blackman, while a long-range cracker from Stephen Wearne struck the bar.
In the end, though, Carlisle had keeper Gabriel Breeze to thank for hanging onto the lead as he produced a brilliant save to keep out Morecambe’s best effort from Emmerson Sutton.
That win leave Carlisle fourth but they have played more games than the others in the top seven apart from Forest Green who are two points behind in fifth.
