Carlisle aim to take momentum into play-offs - Harper

Carlisle United defender Cameron Harper says his team is determined to maintain momentum after securing their spot in the National League play-offs.

Scot Harper, 24, scored the winner at Braintree Town to make certain of their place with five games to spare.

It also extended their lead over fourth-placed Boreham Wood to six points as Carlisle seek a direct passage to a home semi-final on 3 May.

"Momentum is huge in football," Harper told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"In a game momentum can just swing in terms of one little thing, but it's important to have these games coming up before the play-offs that we cement that third spot and a home tie.

"That is an extra man really as it's all about the momentum going into these play-offs."

All of Carlisle's final fixtures are against teams in the bottom eight so they will be keen to build on their current three-game winning run.

Victory at Braintree was a 26th this season for Mark Hughes' side and their points-per-game average of 2.04 would be enough to have them in the top two in any of the four divisions above them.

But the Blues have been unable to match the relentless consistency of Rochdale and York City, who sit 14 and 11 points clear of them, respectively.

Despite that brilliance, one of those two clubs will join Carlisle in the play-offs, which is why Harper knows his side must be ready to go.

"I've not seen anything like it in my career in terms of the number of points the top three have got," he said.

"Credit to them in terms of setting the pace, but we've just got to concentrate on ourselves and the play-offs, having a home leg and go from there."