In a tight match with few chances, it was Paul Simpson's clever juggling of his resources that eventually proved decisive in the extra-time period. The Cumbrians went into the game minus skipper Kevin Gray who was injured in training yesterday morning so in came Lee Andrews. Peter Murphy returned after injury on the left side of midfield. Chris Billy was fouled in the second minute by James Hunt. Andy Preece's free kick was blocked by Rovers' Robbie Ryan, who played for Millwall in last season's Cup final against Manchester United. The game settled into a pattern with defences on top, and United's patient probing doing little to break through the visitor's rearguard. At the other end, Andrews looked in commanding form after standing in for Gray and the Cumbrians looked very solid even without their experienced captain. On 22 minutes Murphy's shot was blocked by Christian Edwards. Three minutes later a McGill effort was wide of the right hand post. Although United were playing some good football, with Chris Lumsdon a pivotal figure, real chances were hard to come by. Matty Glennon had little to do at the other end. On 34 minutes he was finally called into action when Ryan's cross from the left was met by Paul Trollope but the burly stopper got up comfortably to claim it. The second half saw more of the same. Edwards got in the way of a Murphy shot five minutes in. The Irishman was becoming more of a threat down the left as the game wore on and was seeing more and more of the ball. Karl Hawley finally managed a shot on target after 51 minutes but Kevin Miller dealt with his 20-yard effort comfortably enough. Stuart Campbell and Tom Cowan briefly squared up to each other but the referee calmed things down and immediately Campbell was replaced by Ian Atkins with Ali Gibb. On 71 minutes Simpson took off Andy Preece and brought on Kevin Henderson. Trollope fouled McGill on the right touchline and was booked. United were getting on top but there was still plenty of danger in Rovers' Junior Agogo. The pacy striker turned Brian Shelley and fell inside the box but referee Booth took his name for diving, much to the delight (and relief) of the home support. Into injury time Lee Thorpe had a shot parried by Glennon and the game moved into extra time with the score still goalless. Murphy flashed a shot across goal as Carlisle looked menacing again. 9 minutes in, Hawley was hauled off and on came Vieira. Lumsdon had a shot miss the right upright after 101 minutes. Murphy and Lumsdon both had shots blocked in the opening minute of the second period as Rovers came under the heaviest pressure of the night. Then three minutes later Lumsdon's cross from the left fell kindly for Vieira who got up to head past Miller from two yards out. Rovers had to commit more men forward and caused a few anxious moments for Carlisle in the closing minutes. Two minutes were added on and Booth looked to have blown for full time when in fact all he had given was a free kick against United. Thorpe hooked over the bar and that was just about that. Al's verdict: A great win for the lads, achieved with a gritty display and in the end, one well taken goal was the difference between two evenly-matched sides. Rovers didn't do too much attacking and the dangerous Agogo was well shackled by our defenders. I thought Andrews stepped into Gray's shoes very capably and in the middle, Lumsdon had yet another very effective game. Billy worked his socks off too and although it wasn't a night for strikers as the defences were mostly in command, Vieira added a bit of pace late on and was the man in the right place when the chance finally came. Should be an interesting second round tie, although it would be more encouraging to get Forest Green rather than Bournemouth... |
