Hero Carlisle keeper Gabe Breeze saves a late Port Vale penalty to hold onto 3-2 win and boost the Cumbrians’ survival hopes.
In a thrilling rollercoaster game in League Two, Carlisle, fighting to avoid relegation, took the lead and stormed into a 3-0 lead by the 49th minute.
Port Vale, the League Two leaders, pulled two goals back with around 20 minutes to go. But in stoppage time, Port Vale were awarded a penalty, only for Gabe Breeze to keep it out.
Meanwhile, Morecambe hold on to their EFL status by their fingernails, needing to win their remaining three games and hope for miracles elsewhere.
Carlisle’s dramatic win over Port Vale means they are now only four points adrift of Tranmere who lost 3-0 at home to Doncaster.
Carlisle are 23rd with 40 points from 43 games, Tranmere, who lost 3-0 to Doncaster, are 22nd with 44 points, Accrington won 2-1 and are 21st with 46 points from 43 games, Harrogate, MK Dons, and Newport can all still go down.
Carlisle are three goals to the good against league leaders Port Vale! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3jlBIWJffA
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 18, 2025
OH MY WORD! 🤯
Relegation-threatened Carlisle save a stoppage-time penalty to stay 3-2 up against League Two leaders Port Vale! pic.twitter.com/9n66my50nM
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 18, 2025
James Phillips (BBC Radio Cumbria Sport commentator): “The officials have gone card happy, in the aftermath of the penalty the fourth official picked something up.
“It was a great save from Gabriel Breeze.”
Chris Lumsdon (Former Carlisle midfielder on BBC Radio Cumbria): “Three wins on the trot, Carlisle have done all they can do today.
“It’s the Carlisle United way to put you through everything.
“It was a well-struck pen, but an even better save.
“Port Vale showed why they are top of the league, but the first-half performance was more than enough.”
🗣️ Mark Hughes speaks following a massive win against Port Vale. pic.twitter.com/Z9IPh5rb6S
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) April 18, 2025
That final whistle feeling.
Relief. Delight. Call it whatever you want.
We won’t stop fighting 💙 pic.twitter.com/qMkHOZXzSw
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) April 18, 2025
Speaking to CUTV, Mark Hughes said: “I’m delighted for the lads. I thought it was a game of ups and downs towards the end, but we fully deserved the win in my view.
“The performance in the first half was excellent, as good as we played. I feel it’s just a continuation of where we left off from the last two wins. So yeah, it was great.
“I’m really pleased with the level that we showed in that first half. We’re going up against the top team in the division. Second half, they have to change their shape, change their personnel, because they couldn’t get a foothold in the game.
“So we knew they’d come back. You just hope that things don’t drop for them in the box. They will always ask questions.
“And in fairness, we got the third goal. And ideally, you just want to see the game out comfortably, but it’s never quite like that at a League Two level. So we had to dig in towards the end, and we’re grateful to Gabe for making a great save from the penalty, which we’re a bit aggrieved about because we felt it was a foul on Terell Thomas before the connection with the striker.
“But yeah, we’ve won the game and that was the right result in my view.”
On Georgie Kelly: “Georgie was once again playing out his skin. I mean, the guy hasn’t had anything like the amount of football that his talent deserves in recent times. So I think he’s just enjoying being out there playing, plays with freedom, plays with intelligence as well, understands where the goal is, brings people in to play.
“So I thought it was a complete striker’s performance today.”
On the game in general, Mark said: “It was a really good performance and the fans were great. I mean, they came out in huge numbers. It was really important for us that we got that backing today.
“They understood where we are and the situation we’re in. So yeah, I think it was a great day of football. I’m sure at halftime, Port Vale would have talked about trying to get the first goal and put us under pressure.
“But for Aaron [Hayden] to get that one.
“Yeah, and then looking back at the goal itself, it’s an outstanding header, fantastic goal. So he does give us that threat, he’s renowned for that.
“When he was at Wrexham, he scored about 10, 12 goals. A centre-half scoring that level of goals in any one season, then that’s going to help you.”
On Port Vale: “They matched us up and then played to their strength, which is the two front guys who will get on the end of things and chase things. And yeah, it’s very difficult to stop every single ball going into your box and they got a couple of breaks and put some pressure on us.
“But like I said, I thought the penalty decision was really poor, but thankfully it came to the rescue.”
On Gabe Breeze: “I think he knew which way he was going to go.
“He gets told the likelihood of which side, whichever individual takes the penalty, that’s something that we do in terms of his preparation. So, yeah, guess right, guess correctly, remember the information he’d been given. So, yeah, great to see.”
On Matty Dennis sent off for two bookings, one when he was substituted for taking too long, and another during the penalty celebrations. A negative, in a game full of positives: “Yeah, and that’s a disappointment, I have to say. I mean, the first one was for him apparently not getting off the pitch when he was substituted.That’s a soft one.
“The other one is just, obviously, everybody was jubilant at that point and I don’t know what made him do it. I think he’s just thrown a bottle on the pitch, which you can’t do, especially if you’ve been booked before.
“So, that’s a negative on the day, but it won’t take away from the performance that we’ve put in today. It means we’ll be missing him on Monday. It means that somebody else has to step up.
“I thought Joe Hugill came on to good effect, like he has done in recent times. So, yeah, we’ve got Elliot Embleton back as well after his suspension. So, yeah, we’ll still be in good shape.”
On the next game: “We can affect Accrington, obviously, next game up.
“So, we’ll try and do that, but we’ve just got to keep this run going. If we can go right to the end of the season and win every game, then we can’t really do any more than that. So, let’s hope that’s enough.
“We cut the gap today. So, we’re grateful for that, but still a long way to go.
We’re still in it. We’re still fighting. That’s what I expect.
“I’ve talked for a long time now, for the last few weeks, about the beliefs that the group is showing.
“They believe in what they’re doing in terms of the balance that we’ve got to our player at the moment. They understand sometimes you’ve got to be a bit basic and clear your lines and work from a different position. But when we get the opportunity to play, we’ll play.
“And everybody behind the scenes, players, staff, everybody feels we can do something special, but we’re not there yet.”
Twitter users reacted after the hero Carlisle keeper saves a late Port Vale penalty to hold onto a 3-2 win and boost survival hopes…
@DaveHedgehog11: Had the misfortune to listen to the BBC Stoke commentary, commentator spent the whole second half slating young Gabe Breeze, get it right up them.
@bcafcwin: As much as I’ve wanted you boys to go down, would absolutely love you to stay up now! Proper fighting spirit all the way through that game. Fair play 👏🏻
@DanCUFC: 🔵 Just another afternoon down BP! 😂 Easy summary: First half – Superb! Second half – Bloody hell! GABRIEL FUCKING BREEZE!!! They all get MotM for me, amazing what a bit of confidence can do to a Squad! Onto Accy on Monday then… UTB!
@joeleigh95: Get in lads, done well to win that inspite of those officials, massive game on Monday, I would like to apologise for anything negative I’ve ever said about Georgie Kelly, what a finish, maybe he just needed a consistent run of games after all.
@fish_blues: Whatever happens now! No club in the world like us! Don’t care what anyone else says! My team my club my blues!! Come on!! @bbccumbriasport #cufc
@scottieh84: This is what it’s about let’s keep pushing it’s never over 💪💪 #UTB #CUFC
@DresdenValiant: Wank result but showed some serious bollocks at 3-0 to get back in the game and a kick from keeping the run going. Had to end sometime. Rather it be today than against Grimsby or Wimbledon. Hope for the #cufc they stay up. @OfficialPVFC @AleAndValePod #pvfc
@Lorna__Jayne: Gwan Carlisle you mental bastards. WTF 💙 #cufc
@SimoneCufc: @bbccumbriasport what a rollercoaster of a match that was!! Thought it was over at 3-0… Then very nervy at 3-2 then the pen but thank god it’s over!! C’mon you blues… It’s not over yet!!
@willtod: My 6 year olds assessment of that. “Dad, that’s the best game I’ve ever seen”. Fairs lad. It was really something. Atmosphere was class. 🤣 #cufc
@KevBirnie: If you guys @officialcufc could refrain from putting me through that kind of nerve test and win games normally, my heart would appreciate it greatly 🤣🤣🤣 what a massive win lads #CUFC
@CTH_vale: Good luck for rest of the season far better side first half tried to come back but u held on good luck with the final 3 games
@Bennn_ntfc: Go on lads I love an underdog story come on it’s only 4 points now with 3 to go
@Bantams_1903: Fairplay. Even when we beat you, I thought you played some good stuff but lacked abit of bite and grit. Looks like Sparky’s getting your boys to play.
@_McCluskeyR: Fair play fantastic win that guys keeps the great escape alive
@SHD_Backup: Fair play! 👏🏼
@allmoshnopit: Fairs. Feel the Breeze
@karl72465: Feel the fucking breeze
