Tamworth took a break from Enterprise League action to focus on their 4th Round Qualifying tie and the long away trip to Brunton Park. In 2010-11 The Lambs nearly progressed past their hosts in the only previous FA Cup meeting, but ultimately lost by the odd goal in 5 and with both sides now competing in the same league, were welcomed by The Cumbrians with both hoping to bag a place in the 1st Round Proper and the £9,375 prize money, at the first attempt.

Lambs boss Andy Peaks made just one change to the side that suffered a physical defeat to Barrow the previous weekend. As Oliver Dyson was ruled out through illness TJ Bramble came back into the line-up following his international duty with Antigua and Barbuda where he had started each of their four games, scoring once.

With only one side of the 18,000 capacity ground open, fans of both teams enjoyed the view from the main stand as Rob Elliot’s home side got the game underway.
An early cross from Leo Duru had to be dealt with by Tom Parkes, and Kenton Richardson picked up the loose ball on the edge of the area, striking for goal and a deflection took it just past Rhys Lovetts right hand post.
The corner gave the Lambs defence some work to do and it took a clearance from Morgan Roberts to ease the pressure.
But the home side took the lead on 7 when Micah Obiero took it around Parkes into the area and Regan Linney finished the short pass with a close range strike that Lovett couldn’t prevent it crossing the line. (1-0, 7 mins)
Teddy Jenks found space to load a low effort from the edge of the area on 18, and it took a deflection to take it a few inches past the left had post with Lovett grounded. The Lambs keeper managed to punch the flagkick away for another and despite Bramble’s intervention United maintained possession and sustained their intentions.
Brad Nicholson threaded it through to Callum Whelat on 20, and he turned it into the box. Another deflection, off Joe Rye, popped the ball up and sent it goalward but Lovett reached up and pushed it away from danger when it seems the Carlisle lead would have taken an unfortunate turn from a Tamworth perspective.
The home side’s domination of the first half continued and it was only by virtue of poor play in the final third that flowing moves down either wing were not finished.
And when Whelan did get sight from 25 yards out, on the edge of the D, on 24 minutes he curled his right footed effort just wide of the woodwork.
The Lambs first chance of the game came in the 26th minute when Donnelly picked up the ball in the left channel and found Bramble in space in front of him. With defenders closing him down he didn’t have much time to react but did strike for goal and United keeper Archie Mair had to concentrate enough to ensure it rose over him and his bar.
Whelan tripped Roberts as he tried to make a run out of midfield towards the area in the 29th minute but Teo Kurtaran’s freekick for Donnelly was just too long and after Anderson was booked for a late challenge on Donnelly after 32 minutes, the freekick came to nothing again.
The Lambs were enjoying more space than in the previous half hour and Tom McGlinchey made headway into the area but saw his on target curling shot turned over the bar for a corner. From the flagkick Donnelly picked the ball up in the area and turned defender Stephen Wearne before hitting the deck, but the referee was having none of his shouts for a penalty.
As the first half entered the final five minutes Carlisle found some of their earlier mojo had returned but the final ball was still found wanting from separate Whelan and Obiero crosses.
At the other end though, The Lambs nearly made it all square on 43 minutes when Donnelly’s strike from the left of the D was parried by Mair and rebounded to the keeper’s left and into the path of Bramble but his angled finish clipped the outside of the far post.
However, it was 2-0 two minutes later when Carlisle exposed gaps down Lambs left and Duru’s cross from the wing was headed away from goal by Rye but it fell invitingly for Linney to powerfully from the right of the six yard box into the back of the net (2-0, 45 mins)

HT: 2-0

The Lambs got the game back underway but the first chance fell to Whelan who picked up a low cross into the left of the area and turned on the spot but his shot was always going to be blocked enroute to goal.
Tamworth responded and McGlinchey found space on the right to send a perfect cross into the six yard box for Calder to head home a yard in front for the far post to give the 100 or so travelling faithful hope (2-1, 48 mins)
Less than 60 seconds later, direct from the restart Carlisle pushed up field and it took a Rye header off the line to deny Obiero’s chip from the right from restoring the advantage.
A United attack on the hour was halted mid flow when Obiero took the ball square in the face and fell to the floor and despite the home fans questioning the referee’s decision he was duty bound to ensure the player was not badly hurt.
The Cumbrians came close to a third on 67 minutes but took another header off the line, this time by Tom Handley from Whelan’s effort which looked like to do what he intended.
Roberts was booked for catching Obiero’s run towards the right corner of the box on 70 minutes and Whelan found Nicholson at the far post from his deadball, but his header was glanced wide of the mark.
Josh Williams was brought down by Handley as he pushed the ball down the left wing on 75, earning the Lambs defender a booking, and United pressed from the dead ball with Obiero involved again but saw his shot from 12 yards blocked and cleared.
At the other end, on 80 minutes, Kurtaran’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked and found Acquaye on the left who whipped his cross to the far post for Donnelly, but his header went agonisingly wide of the mark.
Williams cross from the left into the back of the Lambs area on 83 minutes found Linney, looking for his hattrick, but he completely mishit his first time volley and the ball span away and out without a fear of troubling Lovett’s goal.
He tried again a minute later but found the way through to goal blocked by the knee of Rye and The Lambs cleared upfield with Acquaye going toe to toe with Duru who had to leave the field when he advised the referee of an injury and with ten men on the opposition team Carson crossed into the box but Donnelly could only find the side netting.
A quick move out of defence saw Carlisle substitute Ryan Galvin release David Ajoboye with a cross field pass and it took a fine save from Lovett to ensure his placed shot went wide of the mark, and from the corner Obiero tried to turn it home but he too missed the target.
As the five minutes of added time ticked down the home side forced another corner which sub Will Raffety took into the area and it needed a strong defensive tackle to put it behind for another which was eventually cleared.
But there was no time for any more play and the final whistle blew on The Lambs FA Cup campaign.

Carlisle United
Mair, Richardson (Mullarkey 55), Bunker, Whelan (c.) (Ajoboye 78), Linney (Rafferty 90+2), Nicholson, Duru (Galvin 88), Obiero, Wearne (Williams 68), Jenks, Anderson
Subs: Desbois, Azeez
YC: Anderson 32, Nicholson 90+6
RC: (none)

Tamworth
Lovett; Carson, Rye, Parkes (c.), Handley; Calder (Acquaye 69), Bramble (Kelly 68), Kurtaran (Agina 89), McGlinchey (Hutchinson 78); Roberts, Donnelly
Subs: Macaulay, Lyttle, Hollis
YC: Roberts 70, Handley 75, Donnelly 90+6
RC: (none)

Referee: Dean Watson

Attendance: 2708 (97 from Tamworth)