A quieter opening period saw Jeff Smith, in on the left for Simon Hackney, come closest to opening the scoring for Carlisle when his cross-shot was tipped onto the angle of far-post and bar by Stockport's on-loan goalkeeper Conrad Logan as early as the 12th minute. United unable to capitalise on their possession in the opening 45 minutes as long-range shots rained wide of the target or were all too easy for Logan to handle.
The Blues struck the woodwork again early after the break when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was this time denied as Logan pushed his fierce angled drive high onto the near post. Against the run of play Stockport took the lead in the 49th minute when Adam Proudlock latched onto a loose ball just inside the Carlisle penalty area, Proudlock thumping home a left-footed drive into the near top corner of United goalkeeper Keiren Westwood's net.
Three minutes later and Carlisle struck the frame of the goal for the third time in the tie when Danny Graham somehow sent a free header from eight yards out onto the inside of the far-post after good work on the left by Smith. Despite laying siege to County's goal for large stretches of the game United found themselves on the end of a two goal deficit in the 68th minute when Matty McNeil was somehow left unmarked at the Carlisle back-post to head an Anthony Elding corner beyond Westwood.
It really was one of those nights for the Cumbrians and their misery was compounded on 74 minutes when Proudlock made a mess of a cross in from the right from Liam Dickinson. The Hatters once more getting the rub of the green as Proudlock's mis-kick fell straight to the boot of Elding who smashed the ball into the back of the net from close range. Few more chances being created by either side in the closing stages as United seemed to admit defeat on an evening to forget at Brunton Park.