So, it's a journey to a club in the Blue Square Bet Premier relegation zone for the Blues, with United either travelling to Alfreton, in 23rd place at present, or Lincoln, in 21st positon at the moment, in the opening stage of the 2011-12 competition. The Reds and the Red Imps having fought out a 1-1 draw at North Street yesterday, with the replay taking place this coming Tuesday night at Sincil Bank, Sam Smith giving Lincoln the lead in the 10th minute before City goalkeeper Joe Anyon then saw red for violent conduct just before half-time, with Nathan Jarman then converting the resultant penalty.
No further goals were scored though in front of 1,000 supporters, with 488 of those coming from a Lincoln side who this week appointed David Holdsworth appointed David Holdsworth as their new manager following the sacking of Steve Tilson earlier this month, and United will now have to wait until Tuesday to see if they are set to make the 176 mile trip to Derbyshire or the the 182 mile journey to Lincolnshire. Both sides though, understandably so with them being in the relegation zone, are struggling at home this season, with Alfreton going W1 D3 L5 F9 A22 at North Street, while Lincoln are marginally better at Sincil Bank with a record of W2 D3 L4 F8 A11.
As far as previous meetings are concerned, Carlisle have never met Alfreton in competitive action, although it is a chance to meet an old friend, in Reds boss Nicky Law, who has been in charge at North Street since may 2007. At Lincoln though, whose current captain is former Blue Josh Gowling, United had a pretty poor record over the years City were in the Football League, with the Blues winning just five, drawing nine and losing 18 of the 32 games played between the sides at Sincil Bank.
FA Cup-wise the teams have never met in Lincolnshire, but Carlisle have played three times at home to City in the competition, winning two and losing one, with the most recent of those matches coming in the first round in the 2002-03 campaign. Elsewhere in this year's draw, made by Keith Houchen and Matt Hanlan, Morecambe v Sheffield Wednesday, FC Halifax Town v Charlton Athletic, Luton Town v Northampton Town and Swindon Town v Huddersfield Town all look candidates to be televised, while our fellow Cumbrians Barrow have been drawn at home to League Two opposition, in Rotherham United.
FA Cup First Round Draw in full
Hereford United v Yeovil Town
Bury v Crawley Town
Luton Town v Northampton Town
Cambridge United v Wrexham
Morecambe v Sheffield Wednesday
Swindon Town v Huddersfield Town
Redbridge v Oxford City
Bristol Rovers v Kidderminster Harriers or Corby Town
Oldham Athletic v Burton Albion
Preston North End v Southend United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Bath City
Hartlepool United v Stevenage
Droylsden or Blyth Spartans v Gateshead
Alfreton Town or Lincoln City v Carlisle United
Chesterfield v Torquay United
Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United
Tranmere Rovers v Cheltenham Town
Chelmsford City or Gloucester City v AFC Telford United
Darlington or Hinckley United v Tamworth
Exeter City v Walsall
Bradford City v Rochdale
Notts County v Accrington Stanley
Port Vale v Grimsby Town
Sheffield United v Oxford United
FC Halifax Town v Charlton Athletic
Sutton United or Leatherhead v Kettering Town
AFC Bournemouth v Gillingham
MK Dons v Nantwich Town
AFC Totton v Bradford Park Avenue
Newport County v Shrewsbury Town
Leyton Orient v Bromley
East Thurrock United v Macclesfield Town
AFC Wimbledon v Scunthorpe United
Salisbury City v Arlesey Town
Brentford v Basingtoke Town
Maidenhead United v Aldershot Town
Mansfield Town or Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Barrow v Rotherham United
Southport v Barnet
Plymouth Argyle v Stourbridge
*Ties will be played on the weekend of 12 and 13 November