Carlisle 1 Swansea City 2

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The name of Carlisle United will always be synonymous with the 94th minute after the famous moment when on loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored to maintain their football league status eight years ago.

And whilst today wasn't as dramatic as that it was another on loan signing - Darryl Duffy - who utilised the 94th and final minute to keep alive the Swans dream of a second successive crack at the play offs and end their hosts season with one cruel final blow.

On a pulsating and tense afternoon in the very North of England it was maybe fitting that Duffy - a Scotsman - should pounce for the winner - the 5th goal in his last four outings for his current (temporary) employers. And it capped a remarkable end to the game which had started so well for the Swans - Lee Trundle firing them ahead after just 45 seconds to the joy of the reasonably vast travelling support.

And whilst the Swans were celebrating a victory they knew it was only to keep them in touch as Oldham's win at Brighton sets up a nerve jangling final day next week when promotion chasing Blackpool come to the Liberty Stadium whilst the Latics entertain already relegated Chesterfield.

And with the run of the mill presently maybe favouring Swansea - Blackpool arrive on the back of six successive wins - including yesterday's impressive 3-1 triumph over Champions Scunthorpe. But that is next week - this was the penultimate Saturday and Carlisle.

Roberto lined his side up as follows

Willy

Tatey Den Izzy Kev

Britts Craney KOL Robbo

Trunds Darryl

Subs: Oakes, Pawel, Williams, Amankwaah, Monk

And it was somewhat of a surprise - albeit a pleasant one - to see Garry Monk back in the matchday squad after a long lay off but he seems unlikely to feature this season especially with Den and Izzy forging a stronger partnership game after game.

After the rather bizarre sight of the matchball being delivered by RAF helicopter it was down to the serious business and, of course, that perfect start. Britts found Trunds who turned sharply and hammered an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the goal to give the Swans the lead. Just over 12 months ago he had scored early against Carlisle at the Millennium Stadium but this was even quicker - there was less than a minute on the clock and the Swans were ahead.

One could have become two in a first half bossed by the visitors with the home side showing fleeting threats but nothing substantial to worry Willy. Player of the season Britts hit the side netting, Robbo curled a free kick just wide and Swansea were looking all the likely to score a second. There were bookings for KOL and Britts - both deserved yellows - but that was the only real problem for the Swans as they headed into the half time interval and the news that Oldham were winning at Brighton.

You always get the feeling with the Swans that one goal may not be enough and the defensive problems that have plagued us all season came back to haunt us early second half. What appeared to be a defensive howler between two defenders and Willy allowed Smith a clear sight on goal and he wasn't going to miss from ten yards out and Carlisle were level - and very much undeservedly so.

And for ten minutes after that Carlisle pushed the Swans and maybe could have snatched another goal as the Swans struggled to regain the composure they had showed so much of before half time. Tate was replaced by Amankwaah ten minutes into the second half after a kick in the head in his own penalty area whilst Williams replaced Austin to try and give the Swans a little extra going forward on the left flank.

And slowly they gained the upper hand again although the contest was much closer than it had been in the first half as both sides realised that a point was no good to them with Oldham still holding the lead on the South Coast.

Robinson came close as did Trundle and Duffy whilst Smith and Hawley were causing problems in the Swansea defence - most notably the pace of Smith who Carlisle were seeing as their main attacking outlet although Lawrence dealt reasonably admirably with him.

As the game drifted into stoppage time it looked as if the game may just have been up for both sides but the Swans weren't finished. Trundle's excellent pass found Izzy - playing up front - and his powerful shot was only parried to Duffy who controlled and shot home into an empty net to cue wild scenes of celebration in the Swansea ranks and long stares of disbelief from the Carlisle fans. Protests that Duffy had handballed fell on deaf years and two Carlisle players saw yellow for those protests. Handball or not the goal had been given and the Swans saw out the remaining time to keep alive their play off hopes which, despite recent efforts, still rely on results elsewhere rather than having our future in our own destiny.

A pitch invasion at the end saw a couple of Carlisle fans chirp a few words (Och Aye and Haggis I assume) at Trundle and he was walked off the field by a couple of coppers as the PA man asked for everyone to leave the pitch (anyone remember Bury?)

The season will go into it's 46th game next week with all to play for and its feasible that the Swans could end with one of the highest tallys ever not to reach the play offs. Time will tell on that front.

A great day and a great result - fingers crossed next week we are still celebrating.

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