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In usual Johnstone's Paint Trophy fashion both sides made extensive changes from their league line-ups at the weekend. And it was the home side that settled the better at Christie Park on the night as they took the lead after only three minutes when a Neil Wainwright cross in from the right was converted at close range by an unmarked Garry Hunter.
Wainwright then forcing Tony Kane into a good block on eight minutes before Peter Murphy missed a sitter for the visitors, the Dublin-born defender somehow shooting wide of an open goal after Barry Roache had made a good parry from a Hurst strike. Kavanagh and Matty Robson then having shots saved as Carlisle stepped up the pressure, Kavanagh then having a curling free-kick pushed away by an overworked Roache.
Some iffy defending by Murphy saw the Carlisle man booked for handball, the free-kick leading to a Hunter cross which just evaded Dave Artell at the back-post. A Duffy set-piece then almost seeing Evan Horwood nod into his own goal as the Shrimps had a better spell in the game. Hurst, after combining with new United signing Richard Offiong, then having a shot saved by Roache as the Blues looked for an equaliser prior to half-time.
Carlisle did level matters three minutes after the break though when a Horwood run up and a strong Michael Burns tackle found possession breaking to Kavanagh who swept the ball home from 20 yards out past substitute goalkeeper Scott Davies, the new Shrimps stopper having come on at the interval with Roache carrying an injury.
Shortly afterwards Jim Bentley nearly found his own net when he cleared away a Madine cross from in front of Offiong. Morecambe regained the lead in the 56th minute though when a poor header by Murphy found Collin racing off his line into no-mans land. Curtis then finishing well with a well-placed lob over the stranded Collin to complete a calamitous defensive goal for the visitors.
Michael Twiss then missing a big chance to make it 3-1 shortly afterwards when he wastefully blazed wide from a Curtis knock-down. Hurst had a shot easily saved by Roache as play went up the other end but it was soon back at the Carlisle end as Collin made a rick of a backpass and lost possession to Curtis, fortunately for the visitors though Curtis was quickly crowded out by some strong defending.
Joe Anyinsah had earlier entered the fray for Carlisle from the bench and the former Bristol City man had a barnstorming short spell on the pitch. Anyinsah first having a shot blocked then seeing fellow replacement Gavin Rothery shoot over the top after Davies had spilled Anyinsah's cross in. The tie was to go to penalties though, in which only Artell and Henry McStay scored for the home side, when a Hurst cross was nodded back across by Madine for Kavanagh to head firmly home from 12 yards out.