Carlisle United 3-1 Bradford City (agg 3-2): Home side books spot in League Two play-off final

There’s a flag at Brunton Park which reads, ‘Simmo is our king,’ alongside a cartoon of manager Paul Simpson balancing a trophy on his head.

Sixteen years on from guiding Carlisle from the Conference to League One with back-to-back promotions as player-manager, Simpson is one game from writing another remarkable chapter in a love story with his local club.

In front of 15,401 jubilant fans, Carlisle overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Mark Hughes’ Bradford and book their place at Wembley next Sunday. Brad Halliday’s early own goal levelled the tie before three goals in extra-time – two for United – capped off another ding-dong play-off.

Ben Barclay scored the winner in the 112th minute, though he cannot play against Stockport next week due to being on loan from County.

Callum Guy will also get plaudits for his extra-time goal, though it was cancelled out by veteran striker Matt Derbyshire, 37, on a poor day for Bradford.

Ben Barclay (centre left) may have been Carlisle United’s hero of the hour, but he will be unable to repeat the feat in the final 

Owen Moxon (left) and Taylor Charters were raised aloft by fans after the home side booked their final against Stockport

Bradford City led the first-leg tie 1-0 but were unable to find the necessary equaliser to send the second-leg clash to penalties

Carlisle-born manager Simpson is the true hero, though. He said: ‘Wow, they’ve gone and performed today. I’m sweating buckets here because I’ve gone through it myself!

‘This is what I came back for. The city and club has pulled together to produce a day like that and set us up for next week.’

Callum Guy was the first Carlisle player on the scoresheet for the side after breaking the deadlock in the first half of extra-time

But Matt Derbyshire (in focus) kept the visitors in the hunt with his own goal 10 minutes later