United Fail From The Spot At Spotland

Gary Madine - 71st minute goal

Despite making an expected raft of changes to the starting line-up the Blues were still on the wrong end of the scoreline for the fifth time in a row, although this time they did manage to avoid a defeat over 90 minutes. Tonight's disappointment coming after penalty spot misses from Grant Smith and Simon Hackney allowed Rochdale to progress to the Northern Area quarter-finals.

It all started so well for Carlisle too as they took the lead after only four minutes when Jennison Myrie-Williams, making his first start, crossed in for Michael Bridges, restored to the starting eleven, to volley home from close range. That was about as good as it got though for the 318 travelling United fans when Rochdale soon scored twice in the space of six minutes.

Former Blue Adam Rundle skipping all too easily past an out-of-form Evan Horwood in the Carlisle left-back spot on ten minutes, before clipping a ball into the middle which allowed a relatively unmarked Lee Thorpe to head past Ben Williams in the United goal. Just as you thought that was bad things got even worse only six minutes later.

Horwood involved in the wrong respect again when his dreadful back-pass was picked up on by Chris Dagnall, the Rochdale frontman then rounding a stricken Williams before tapping the ball into an empty United goal. The home side, thanks to some good goalkeeping from Williams, unable to further their lead before the break as the Carlisle defence creaked more than a haunted house floorboard.

Things improved marginally for the Blues in the second-half, Bridges going close early on when 'Dale goalkeeper Sam Russell did well to tip his curling effort onto the post. Williams though was still having work to do at the other end when he made a good save from Dagnall, although he was untested just after the hour-mark when Rundle fired a good chance wide.

The introduction of Gary Madine for Danny Graham moments later gave United some much needed impetus and it was Madine who levelled the scoreline at 2-2 with 71 minutes on the clock. The young Carlisle striker hitting in a powerful speculative drive from fully 20 yards out that flicked off a Rochdale defender before it flew into Russell's net.

Rochdale came storming back though and it took a couple more good saves from Williams to ensure that the tie went to a penalty shootout with the 90 minutes up. Williams was unable to make himself a hero however in the 12-yard duel as United, going first, saw Grant Smith and Simon Hackney hit the post with the first and fifth Carlisle penalties, while the home side were able to easily convert their opening four spot-kicks.