It proved to be the ideal backdrop for the launch of the Carlisle and Cumbria United Independent Supporters Trust. The morning saw 1100 fans packing the Sands Leisure Centre to hear proposals for the raising of funds to enable the purchase of shares in the club, and ultimately a fans representation on the clubs Board of Directors.

Ian Atkins had agreed to make a brief appearance in support of the principals of the Trust but was left overwhelmed by the standing ovation he received on taking the stage: “I am amazed by the volume of people who have turned out today. It shows the whole community care about what happens to the club as well as the great potential for the club to go forward. It can certainly sustain a club in the First Division.”

Although the club finish the season third from bottom, after another traumatic nine months, the supporters more than anyone appreciate what Ian Atkins has achieved against all the odds.

Their hope is that the impending change of ownership is sooner rather than later to allow the club’s management adequate time to prepare for next season.

A bumper crowd of over eight thousand was testimony to the potential of the club and on the evidence of their performance against a Hull side assured of a play-off place, the gap between success and failure is not particularly great.

Ian Atkins was pleased with his teams performance and said: “The players and myself have been shattered since the Lincoln match. Credit to the players that they managed to play at a high tempo today and it shows that when we keep the tempo of the game up we are more than a match for anyone. The crowd were magnificent again and they, as much as the players, have got the results to keep us up. A club like this shouldn’t be in this position but how many times has this club been described as having potential but failed to deliver.”

Carlisle should have taken the lead on eight minutes but an Ian Stevens header from a Gordon Connelly corner hit strike partner Steve Halliday on the line before rebounding to safety.

Stevens then hit a left foot shot past the post before his right foot shot forced a save out of Tigers keeper Paul Musselwhite on 12 minutes.

Hull’s first shot on target came on 20 minutes when Rodney Rowe turned well in the box to hit a shot which had Matty Glennon at full stretch to hold.

On 38 minutes a weak back header from Mark Winstanley had Glennon scrambling to beat the loitering Rowe and at the other end Stevens was again in the right place only to smash his shot over the bar from 18 yards out.

In first half stoppage time a Dave Morley slip let in Rowe but the defenders blushes were spared when the Hull striker’s weak chip was comfortably saved by Glennon.

Immediately after the break a perfect Stevens cross had Halliday and Jon Cullen getting in each others way and the chance was gone. Halliday then almost made amends but saw his goalbound shot ricochet off Whittle’s head for a corner. Steven’s then had Musselwhite at full length to keep out a shot from twenty yards.

Little had been seen of Hull after the break, but a strong reminder of why they are looking forward to the play-offs came on 57 minutes, when Mark Greaves 20 yard effort had Glennon at full stretch to tip the effort round the post.

As Carlisle continued to dominate Heggs shot wide and Halliday went close twice before a 67th minute Gordon Connelly cross found Dave Morley’s head only for Musselwhite to make another fine save.

A minute later Cullen’s 30 yard chip deserved better than nestling on the roof of the net but the Cumbrians had to be content with a point and their sixth successive home clean sheet.

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