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Leg one of the tie took place in late February in Carlisle, and saw Andy Smart give the visitors a ninth minute lead in front of just 191 away fans with a long distance strike. Karl Hawley though equalised for United in the 20th minute following set-up play by Derek Holmes and Chris Lumsdon. Carlisle's superior possession eventually telling in the last minute when Peter Murphy headed home a Simon Hackney corner to give the Blues a one goal lead to take down the M6.
Two weeks later things couldn't have started any worse for the Cumbrians when they found themselves 2-0 and 3-2 down overall after just 28 minutes, Andrew Teague and Matty McNeil getting the Macclesfield goals. A big moment in the tie coming on 34 minutes when Keiren Westwood made an outstanding triple save to pretty much keep Carlisle alive in the competition.
Karl Hawley then netting after 42 minutes with a deflected strike to make things totally level overall, no further goals ensuring that the game went to extra-time. Simon Grand hammered home for the Blues with 109 minutes on the clock from a loose ball at a corner to leave the home side needing two goals due to the away goals rule, but there were still some nervy moments left when Kevin Townson scored for Town a minute or so before the final whistle.
League games between the two teams certainly haven't had as much tension in them as that tie, with the sides having met six times at Brunton Park on league duty. United winning four and losing two, scoring seven and conceding four. In League Two this season Macclesfield are in 15th place having won one, drawn three and lost two of their six league games on the road.
Ahead of tonight's Northern Section Second Round tie Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander commented :
"We've got a mini-run going now, have climbed the division a bit and we really want to keep that run going. We'll have to see who is fit, obviously, but it's a game I want to win because we want to keep this run going. Taking seven points in three games is excellent, but this game isn't a life-or-death game. It's a good game and we want to win it and we'll do our best to do that."
In team news for the Silkmen this evening central defender Sean Hessey is still a few weeks away from selection as he recovers from a knee injury while striker Kyle Wilson is also sidelined with a groin problem. Elsewhere centre-half, and captain, Paul Morgan and central midfielder Ross Draper are both suffering with minor knocks and will undergo late fitness tests ahead of tonight's game.
The referee for tonight's match is David Webb from County Durham, and he will be assisted down the lines by Peter Bankes from Bootle on Merseyside and Paul Davison from Stockton on Tees in Cleveland. Meanwhile the fourth official is Simon Clayton from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. If the match ends up as a draw after 90 minutes then there will be no extra-time played and the tie will go to straight to penalties.