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United boss Paul Simpson made just one change to the starting eleven that had defeated Oxford United 2-1 at Brunton Park three days earlier as he brought in Adam Murray for Chris Billy.
That meant a back five of Keiren Westwood, Paul Arnison, Peter Murphy, Kevin Gray and Danny Livesey. The midfield was made up of Chris Lumsdon, Adam Murray, Simon Hackney and Raphael Nade while Karl Hawley and Derek Holmes continued their prolific partnership upfront.
Waiting in the wings on the Carlisle bench were substitute keeper Anthony Williams, Jamie McClen, Simon Grand, David Beherall and Brendan McGill. Michael Bridges was unavailable due to being cup-tied having played 15 minutes of Bristol City’s defeat to Barnet in the first round of the Trophy.
It was a quiet start to the game and a poor first half that had the feel of a pre-season friendly about it at times, apart from the frosty conditions compared to a balmy July afternoon. Still there were chances for both sides in the opening period with each missing good opportunities to break the deadlock.
Ian Morris had the first shot on goal for the visitors when he tried a left-footed curler from a free-kick on the edge of the United box, it was a weak effort though which Westwood easily watched drift wide.
At the other end Hawley controlled a ball up from Lumsdon well but he hit his shot on the turn poorly straight at Les Pogliacomi in the Blackpool goal. Three minutes later Adam Murray blazed over the Seasiders bar from 18 yards out after Hawley had seen his initial effort blocked by on-loan ‘Pool defender Danny Warrender.
Hawley was again in the thick of the action on the ten-minute mark when he took a touch on a long ball up from Murphy, his shot from 20 yards out was always rising though as it sailed into the empty Waterworks end.
Two minutes on and it was Blackpool’s Danny Coid who went close in an even game after a good run through but his effort from just outside the United box never tested Westwood as it flashed wide.
Next up with a chance for the Blues was Nade who hammered in a good looking effort after a Lumsdon free-kick only to see it well blocked by Coid for the Seasiders.
Carlisle were pressing on well now and it was the Cumbrians other winger, Hackney, who had the following opportunity in the 23rd minute. Holmes flicked the ball to the ex-Woodley Sports youngster in the left-hand channel only for Hackney to see his cracking volley well closed down by one-time United left-back Rob Edwards.
The Blues were to go even closer two minutes later when Nade hit the outside of the post with a header from a Murphy free-kick out on the right. ‘Pool keeper Pogliacomi had come flying off his line to try and claim the set-piece but to be honest he got nowhere near it. The big Australian looked very suspect on balls into his box all his evening and was spoken to by referee Terry Ilderton at one point after complaining that he was being obstructed when it was plain to see that he was just a "flapper".
Holmes then had a good chance for the Cumbrians with a header from a Hackney corner as he got to the ball first at the near-post but could only send his header narrowly wide of the far-post. It had been a good spell of pressure in the game for United but they had failed to take the lead when on top.
Around the half-hour mark and Carlisle could have had two penalties in quick succession but both appeals were waved away by the official. Firstly Edwards seemed to control the ball with his right arm in the ‘Pool area and then Edwards again seemed to pull back Hawley as he ran on into the box.
It was the visitors turn to have a good spell of possession before half-time though as United struggled to clear their lines and get out of their own half. Murphy almost sliced the ball into his own goal from close range but the ball flew over the United bar. From the resultant corner sent in by Ian Morris the ball fell straight onto the head of John Murphy but he could only send his header over from six yards out to miss ‘Pool’s best chance of the half.
Almost on the interval whistle and it was United who had their best opportunity of the game so far. Hawley played a lovely slide-rule pass through to the onrushing Holmes but he didn’t lift his effort high enough as Pogliacomi came out at his feet and the chance was gone as the ball bounced away off the Australian’s body.
It had been a pretty even first period with half-chances for both sides without either goalkeeper really having to make a difficult save. The goals would come after the break though as both sides upped the pace from the hour mark in an effort to avoid a sapping 30 minutes of extra-time.
The second half started in as dull a fashion as the first had with both sides giving the ball away in midfield and the East Stand linesman claiming for Repetitive Strain Injury as he seemed to give ‘Pool’s Tommy Wright offside every five seconds.
Bang on 60 minutes and Carlisle boss Paul Simpson was forced into making his first change of the game as Beherall replaced Arnison. Coid and Arnison had chased for a long ball down the United right and just as the Blues right-back seemed to be winning the race he pulled up with a calf strain. Nade filled in for Arnison in the full-back spot momentarily as Arnison hobbled around in midfield waiting for a break in play and the chance to limp off.
Poor old Beherall must have felt the world was against him as United went 1-0 down within two minutes of him coming on although he couldn’t be placed at fault for the visitors goal. Morris swung in a sweet near-post corner which Wright met perfectly with his head to glance the ball home as Westwood and the Carlisle defenders played statues in the six-yard box.
Just as the Paddock gang were getting ready for a good moan about the Blackpool goal that man Hawley took the words off their lips with yet another superb finish to level matters. Hackney laid the ball in to United’s in-form striker on the edge of the Seasiders box which Hawley took the ball in with his back to goal to produce a trademark turn and rocket finish into Pogliacomi’s bottom right corner.
The game had exploded into life now and it took only took United four minutes to complete a 300 second fightback and grab the lead. Murray and Nade played a one-two which resulted in the Frenchman laying the ball past Blackpool centre-half Tony Butler and into the path of Holmes. Carlisle’s targetman got the finish right this time though as he lifted the ball over the onrushing Pogliacomi and into the net to leave the visitors shell-shocked.
In the 71st minute it looked certain that Blackpool would equalise but United somehow managed to hold out. Morris crossed a nice ball in which John Murphy met perfectly to plant a downhard header towards goal which Westwood got a firm two hands to. The ball seemed to bobble out of his gloves though and only a fantastic goal-line clearance by Carlisle’s Murphy, making his 200th start for the Blues, stopped ‘Pool substitute Keigan Parker from tapping into an empty net.
United defended their lead well on the run-in to the whistle as Gray and Livesey both continually got in good headers away from ‘Pool goal-kicks and made some excellent tackles on the Seasiders forwards.
With ten minutes left Westwood did well to keep the United lead intact when he dived out at the feet of Blackpool’s Murphy to collect the ball following a pacey, low cross in by Parker.
McGill came on for the tiring Holmes in the 84th minute as the United coaching staff looked for a pair of fresh legs in midfield. Nade joined Hawley upfront while McGill took his usual spot out on the right-hand side.
The visitors had a couple of half-chances to take the tie to extra-time as Coid fired wide and John Doolan hit a shot straight at Westwood but it was a relatively easy end to the game that saw United out to victory. There was even time for Jamie McClen to get in a rare one-minute burst as he came on for Hackney in added time to run the clock down.
His cameo certainly didn't last long though as the official soon blew the whistle to earn the Blues the win and a place in the Northern Section Quarter-Final.
The draw for that stage of the competition will be made on Saturday morning with Carlisle hoping to avoid long away trips to the "Northern" cities of Hereford and Cambridge.