Okay, most of these came in the first half of the season, when Carlisle United were flying and ‘Beech Ball’ was still fully inflated.

But still – let’s remind ourselves of the good times in the Blues' 2020/21 league campaign.

Before things became less impressive after the midway point, United were very good. And a couple of times later on they also reminded us what could have been.

12. Crawley (home)

News and Star: Omari Patrick celebrates his fine goal against Crawley (photo: Barbara Abbott)Omari Patrick celebrates his fine goal against Crawley (photo: Barbara Abbott)

United needed this 2-0 win like the United Kingdom needs a lasting vow of silence from Piers Morgan.

It came after the spell of 13 games that had brought one win from February to late March, sending the Blues skidding down the table and taking the optimism of supporters with them.

How much worse could their form get? Thankfully that did not get an answer, as United instead laid on a refreshing victory thanks to Joe Riley and Omari Patrick.

Riley’s goal was aided by a generous goalmouth divot, while Patrick’s was a peach. No, Crawley weren't great shakes. But at least it stopped the rot.

11. Newport (away)

News and Star: Callum Guy in action at Newport (photo: Gareth Williams / AHPix)Callum Guy in action at Newport (photo: Gareth Williams / AHPix)

While the winning habit largely deserted Carlisle in the second half of the season, it would be wrong to say their performances were all below the mark in the games they couldn't turn in their favour.

Rodney Parade has never been an enjoyable place for the Blues but this was their most constructive performance at the south Wales ground.

They played decent football. They battled better than Mike Flynn’s hosts. Somehow, Rod McDonald, Omari Patrick and Offrande Zanzala failed to turn dominance into victory.

The moment a Patrick cross slid through Zanzala’s feet in front of goal, leaving things at 0-0, you knew that, despite their very best efforts, things were no longer going Carlisle’s way.

10. Morecambe (home)

News and Star: Jon Mellish's cross finds the net against Morecambe (photo: Stuart Walker)Jon Mellish's cross finds the net against Morecambe (photo: Stuart Walker)

History had a strange habit of getting in the way any time Carlisle faced Morecambe at home (and vice-versa) in the league, until this season.

Home victories were scarce in the fixture, but the Blues finally got one on the board against the side who would go on to finish fourth.

They started like the clappers, forcing a first-minute own-goal and then adding another in the third minute when Jon Mellish’s cross drifted in.

United had a late scare, but this was a time when their confidence at Brunton Park was on the rise, and George Tanner’s late third capped a 3-1 win from a superior Blues showing. Alas, the Shrimps flipped the scoreline in the return game.

9. Bradford (home)

News and Star: Rhys Bennett opens the scoring for Carlisle against Bradford (photo: Barbara Abbott)Rhys Bennett opens the scoring for Carlisle against Bradford (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Ah! So they can play after all! That was the general feeling when United set about the Bantams amid their drab run of new-year form.

This March 13 victory came out of the gloom largely thanks to the effervescence of Offrande Zanzala.

After Rhys Bennett had headed United in front, the striker had the gall to try and steal a close-range second from the defender.

Bennett won that argument, but the impressive Zanzala buried a fine header of his own after the break and though Bradford threatened a comeback after making it 3-1, Carlisle passed more, played more. A shame they couldn’t hit these standards more often in the closing months.

8. Cheltenham (away)

News and Star: Joshua Kayode heads home at Cheltenham (photo: Gareth Williams / AHPix)Joshua Kayode heads home at Cheltenham (photo: Gareth Williams / AHPix)

In context, this was a night of frustration. In isolation, it was a very good effort from the Blues in spite of what their overall form had become.

Against a Robins side bound for promotion – and trying to see things over the line that Tuesday night – Beech unveiled a rare tactical overhaul that helped the Blues get on top of Michael Duff’s side.

After riding a testing opening spell, Carlisle in their 3-5-2 were the better team in the first half and value for Joshua Kayode’s header, and after Chris Hussey’s leveller they came back again and very nearly won it.

United’s regrets were plain at full-time as the hosts celebrated and the play-offs vanished from Cumbrian view. But they’d given it plenty at Whaddon Road.

7. Colchester (home)

News and Star: Jon Mellish turns to celebrate after scoring against Colchester (photo: Stuart Walker)Jon Mellish turns to celebrate after scoring against Colchester (photo: Stuart Walker)

This was archetypal early-season United, Beech’s side setting off at a serious clip before going to the end in order to prevail.

Carlisle were not in full flow but were brisk from the beginning as Alessandra’s cross drifted in and then Jon Mellish, galloping into his autumn purple patch, deftly turned home a second.

United were brittle under pressure as Luke Norris led a Colchester comeback. But they were strong of stomach to get things going again, and there seemed serious character about Beech’s new team when Aaron Hayden swooped for a 3-2 win and celebrated with a beaming smile.

6. Salford (home)

News and Star: Rhys Bennett looks to the sky after scoring against Salford (photo: Barbara Abbott)Rhys Bennett looks to the sky after scoring against Salford (photo: Barbara Abbott)

As much for the occasion as the performance, this was one of the more enriching nights from a strange old season.

It was the first 2020/21 game at Brunton Park in front of a 2,000 crowd, as Cumbria stepped into the new tiering system of winter Covid-19 rules.

Lewis Alessandra’s opening goal, curling and spinning past the Salford keeper, was a worthy welcome-back for those supporters.

Rhys Bennett later headed a second, and the cheers greeting a 2-1 win at full-time were among the campaign’s most heartening noises.

5. Walsall (away)

News and Star: Taylor Charters shoots for United against Walsall (photo: Barbara Abbott)Taylor Charters shoots for United against Walsall (photo: Barbara Abbott)

In an ideal world, we could all go back to January 2 and pretend everything since then didn’t happen.

It was the last day of innocence; the afternoon in the gently-falling snow when Carlisle went to the top of League Two.

With Taylor Charters superb in midfield, United were much sharper and more muscular than a flaky Walsall team at the Banks's Stadium.

Omari Patrick lasered one home, Joshua Kayode clipped in the late second, and the Blues were suddenly at the summit.

4. Newport (home)

News and Star: Lewis Alessandra scores from the penalty spot against Newport (photo: Stuart Walker)Lewis Alessandra scores from the penalty spot against Newport (photo: Stuart Walker)

A test of Carlisle’s nerve, ability...all of those things. They passed it superbly against table-topping Newport.

They got ahead when Lewis Alessandra buried a penalty, and retained that lead into the second half against an Exiles team who had started the season at pace.

Then along came Jon Mellish, with one searing finish and another soon afterwards.

Jamie Devitt, naturally, pulled one back against his old club, and Newport sneaked a second, but Carlisle held on for what appeared a real statement of a 3-2 win.

3. Crawley (away)

News and Star: Joshua Kayode shows his joy after netting against Crawley (photo: Simon Dack)Joshua Kayode shows his joy after netting against Crawley (photo: Simon Dack)

A long way from home, but United were fresh and nimble as they gave John Yems’ Crawley a thorough beasting in deepest Sussex.

Carlisle’s best away display of 2020/21 had everything: strength, a bullying intent, and some truly merciless attacking.

Rhys Bennett poached his first United goal before half-time, and after the break there was a classic ‘Beech Ball’ second rammed in by Kayode, and a snaffled third by Hayden.

Crawley were beaten and broken. Carlisle were irresistible.

2. Exeter (home)

News and Star: Lewis Alessandra's goal gave United a hard-working win over Exeter (photo: Barbara Abbott)Lewis Alessandra's goal gave United a hard-working win over Exeter (photo: Barbara Abbott)

If you watched the footage without knowing the circumstances, you wouldn’t think this game anything special.

There is an argument, though, that this was Carlisle’s most impressive afternoon of the season.

It was their first game for 28 days, Covid and postponements having wiped out most of their January.

United were clearly well short of their physical heights. Somehow, though, they chiselled out a 1-0 win thanks to Lewis Alessandra’s early volley and lots of full-hearted, exhausting effort, before their mid-season troubles fully caught up with them.

1. Stevenage (home)

News and Star: Joe Riley celebrates his brilliant volley against Stevenage (photo: Barbara Abbott)Joe Riley celebrates his brilliant volley against Stevenage (photo: Barbara Abbott)

This was it – the pinnacle under Beech, the very best of this United team, the day you thought: yeah, they’re good, this lot.

What stood out the most against an admittedly mediocre Stevenage side was how utterly confident Carlisle looked.

They appeared perfectly in tune with each other, totally at ease with their ambition and very much at one with their forceful style of play.

They were 3-0 up at the break, and then Joe Riley crashed in the most violent volley you’ll ever see to make it four.

It was December, and all seemed bright.