Fleetwood Town hosted Carlisle United in a Johnstone's Paints Trophy Northern Section quarter-final on Wednesday evening.
Carlisle are the most successful side in the Football League Trophy's 30-year-old history and the Cumbrians have reached the final of the tournament on six occasions, winning it twice.
However, Graham Kavanagh's side saw their hopes of booking another trip to Wembley dashed, as League Two leaders Fleetwood recorded their fourth straight win in all competitions.
Find out how the game unfolded by revisiting the action with Sports Mole's blow-by-blow text commentary below.
Thank you for joining Sports Mole for tonight’s clash in Lancashire
League One Carlisle are the kings of the JPT, but Fleetwood are yet to lose inside 90 minutes in the competition. The Cod Army made their JPT debut last season, when they were knocked out by Rochdale on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Spotland. Graham Alexander's side then maintained that unbeaten record with wins over Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra in September and October respectively.
Carlisle received a bye in the first round of this season’s competition. They then booked their place in the last 16 with a penalty shootout win at Morecambe following a 0-0 draw at the Globe Arena. Remember, tonight’s match will also be decided by spot kicks if the game is tied after 90 minutes. The Cumbrians will fancy their chances if the match does go to penalties, having won their last two shootouts, including a 4-3 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup in August.
The teams are in…
CARLISLE XI: Fleming, Potts, Ehmer, O'Hanlon, Townsend, Berrett, Symington, Buaben, Amoo, Beck, Robson. SUBS: Brass, Livesey, Gillies, Lynch, Guy
FLEETWOOD XI: Davies, McLaughlin, Roberts, Cresswell, Taylor, Evans, Schumacher, Murdoch, Hughes, Sarcevic, Ball
SUBS: Lucas, Parkin, Brown, Hogan, Dieseruvwe
Mark Gillespie has failed to overcome a knee injury, meaning that 27-year-old goalkeeper Greg Fleming makes his debut for Carlisle. Teenage stopper Lewis Brass is on the bench.
United are also without defender Pascal Chimbonda, who has a groin injury, and striker Lee Miller, who is still suspended.
However, one piece of pre-match good news for the Cumbrians is that loan star Max Ehmer returns to the starting XI after parent club Queens Park Rangers blocked him from playing at Boreham Wood in the FA Cup at the weekend.
Fleetwood have made just one change from the side that started Saturday's 2-0 win at Gloucester, as Ryan Cresswell returns in place of Nathan Pond.
Liam Hogan is back from suspension, but the defender is only deemed worthy of a place on the bench.
The bookmakers have made hosts Fleetwood the favourites to win tonight's tie. The Cod Army are a best price of 11/10 (Bet Victor) to win in 90 minutes. Carlisle are available at 14/5 (SpreadEX), which is also the best odds on a draw (Stan James). Carlisle to qualify for the next round by any means is 13/8 (Paddy Power), while Fleetwood can be backed at 4/7 (Ladbrokes).
PREDICTION: I'm going to do something very foolish and disagree with the bookies. Fleetwood are in fine form, having won their last three games in all competitions, while United have struggled on the road recently, scoring just once in their last five away games. However, Carlisle just love this competition and, although boss Graham Kavanagh has made quite a few changes, the visitors' lineup is very strong. I fancy the Cumbrians to sneak through, perhaps on penalties.
The players are on the pitch and kick off is just moments away...
Carlisle get the game up and running.
United have made a composed start. The away side have an extra man in midfield, having switched to a 3-5-2 system. They are using that to their advantage so far and are dominating possession early on.
After a polite opening few minutes, the game's first free kick is awarded to Carlisle on the halfway line. James Berrett launches it forward towards Sean O'Hanlon, but the ball is cleared behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
GOAL! FLEETWOOD TOWN 1-0 CARLISLE UNITED (David Ball).
Fleetwood break the deadlock with their first attack of the night. Antoni Sarcevic does brilliantly to get to the byline before crossing low to David Ball, who slams home from close range to net his third goal in as many matches.
Sarcevic looks very bright early on. He latches onto Charlie Taylor's cross from the left, before hooking a volley just over from 20 yards.
OFF THE POST! David Amoo passes to Prince Buaben, whose mishit pass falls perfectly to Brad Potts in the Fleetwood penalty area. Potts shoots low with his right foot, but his effort rebounds off the foot of the near post.
Kavanagh has abandoned Carlisle's 3-5-2 system and the visitors are now playing Mike Bassett's favourite, 4-4-2.
BOOKING Berrett is, perhaps harshly, shown a yellow card for a foul on Taylor. Both players were going for the ball. The Fleetwood man was just slightly quicker to it. Tonight's referee is Stuart Attwell.
WHAT A WASTE! It really should be 2-0 to Fleetwood. Gareth Evans gets away down the right and pulls the ball back to Sarcevic, who is denied by a terrific block from Ehmer. The loose ball then falls to Jeff Hughes, who, right in front of goal, performs an embarrassing air kick to let Carlisle off the hook.
Sarcevic continues to impress, cutting in from the left and unleashing a fierce strike from long range. Debutante Fleming makes a strong parry to clear the danger.
OFF THE LINE! Sarcevic springs United's offside trap and then delivers a low cross, which is cleared behind for a corner. The subsequent set piece finds to head of Cresswell. He nods forward towards Ball, whose flicked effort is hacked off the line by Buaben.
After being somewhat overrun in the opening quarter of the match, Carlisle have done well to take the sting out of the game in the last few minutes. Kavanagh's men are keeping the ball well. However, aside from Potts's effort that hit the post on 10 minutes, the hosts' backline has not really been tested as of yet.
Hughes charges into the Carlisle box and then fires in a low cross from the left. Young Conor Townsend does well to intercept. Fleetwood had three attackers waiting in the middle.
Ball tries his luck from a narrow angle, but his shots flies high and wide.
Good attack from Carlisle. Impressive centre-forward play from Mark Beck feeds Potts, who delivers a glorious deep cross from the right. Under intense pressure, Conor McLaughlin clears behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Carlisle very nearly concede from their own corner. Evans spearheads the counter-attack with a pacy run down the right. He gets into the box, where he feeds Ball, who shanks wide from close range.
Carlisle win a free kick midway inside the Fleetwood half on the right. Berrett swings in a decent cross, but Sean O'Hanlon's header is just off target.
HALF TIME: FLEETWOOD 1-0 CARLISLE UNITED.
Mr Attwel blows his whistle to bring the opening half to a close at Highbury. Fleetwood have been the much better side and perhaps should be further ahead.
Fleetwood have had 56% of possession and registered 10 shots, two of which have been on target.
Meanwhile, none of Carlisle's four attempts at goal have been on target. However, Potts did hit the post shortly after Fleetwood went ahead.
Carlisle started the game playing 3-5-2, but Kavanagh quickly moved to 4-4-2 as his defence was being overrun. The change has improved things slightly for the visitors, but one would still expect the Irishman, who is known to possess a bit of a potty mouth, to have a few choice words with his charges during the break.
Fleetwood boss Gary Alexander should be pleased with his side's first-half display. Nevertheless, a one-goal lead against a team that includes the likes of Amoo, Beck and David Symington is a vulnerable one. This game is far from over.
Carlisle look poised to make a change, as Lewis Guy is stripped and ready to enter the action.
SUB: Guy, who won the JPT with Doncaster Rovers in 2007, is coming on for Matty Robson, who picked up an ankle injury during the first half.
Fleetwood get the second half underway.
CHANCE! Stuart Murdoch bursts forward with a powerful run through the middle. He then slides a neat pass into the path of Hughes, who places a low shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Up the other end, Beck flicks on to Guy, who forces goalkeeper Scott Davies to make his first save of the night. However, it won't count in the stats because Guy was narrowly offside.
Excellent build-up play from Carlisle, as they work the ball wide to Potts on the overlap. His cross is cleared to Townsend, who hammers a left-foot shot towards the top corner. Davies parries to safety.
Another chance for Carlisle. Symington crosses from deep on the left towards Beck, who can't quite make contact. However, Symington nearly scores himself as the ball bounces and skids just over the crossbar.
GOAL! FLEETWOOD TOWN 2-0 CARLISLE UNITED (Antoni Sarcevic).
Just as Carlisle were beginning to get on top, Fleetwood double their lead with a fantastic goal from Sarcevic. He collects the ball from Evans just outside of the penalty area and then lifts a brilliant lob over Fleming with his second touch.
Carlisle attempt to respond immediately, but Amoo's fizzing effort from 12 yards drags wide.
Symington can't find the target from long range, as his curling strike flies over.
The rain is pouring down hard and fast here at Highbury, where the powerful wind is blowing water all around the stands. The Carlisle fans are getting wet, but it is not dampening their spirits, as they continue to support their side in the hope that they can spark a comeback.
SUBS: Interesting double change for Carlisle. Amoo and Buaben are replaced by Josh Gillies and Jack Lynch. That move sees two of United's most influential players leave the field. Perhaps Kavanagh has admitted defeat and is saving his star duo for Saturday's clash with Crawley?
Ball cuts in from the left and hits a stinging shot right down the throat of Fleming, who makes a decent save.
Carlisle have played some very tidy stuff in this half. They come forward again, working the ball nicely to Gillies, whose shot from the edge of the area is blocked. The visitors swiftly regain possession and feed Townsend down the left. His cross almost finds Guy in the six-yard box, but Davies comes off his line to gather well.
SUB: Junior Brown comes on for Hughes as Fleetwood make a defensive change.
Carlisle come close to pulling one back as a corner is hoisted into the area, causing a mass panic, which eventually sees the hosts clear.
CHANCE! For the second time tonight, a Fleetwood break from a Carlisle corner almost yields a goal. Ball finds Sarcevic, who, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, sends a low shot inches wide.
SUB: Jon Parkin replaces Ball for Fleetwood in a like-for-like change.
SUB: Fleetwood make their final change as Emmanuel Dieseruvwe replaces Man of the Match Sarcevic.
Tonight's official attendance is confirmed as 2,446.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Substitute Parkin fires low into the net from 10 yards, but his effort is ruled out for offside.
FULL TIME: FLEETWOOD 2-0 CARLISLE UNITED.
The Cod Army go through to join Rotherham United, Chesterfield and Oldham Athletic in Saturday's draw for the Northern Section semi-finals.
Carlisle were much improved in the second half, but Fleetwood were clear and deserved winners.
Fleetwood had 52% of possession and recorded 18 shots, compared to Carlisle's 10.
Five of Fleetwood's shots were on target, while Carlisle tested the goalkeeper just once.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, when asked whether Fleetwood could win a league and cup double this season, goalscorer David Ball replies: "There is a high possibility of that."
That conclude's our live coverage of tonight's match from Highbury. Thanks for following the action with Sports Mole. Goodnight.
