United and Swansea lined up against each other this afternoon in the League One v League Two Football League Trophy Final, with both sides confident that they had enough in their lockers to win it.

Simpson made just the one change to his starting eleven from the last game, bringing Adam Murray back in to replace the cup tied Michael Bridges. Swansea, as expected, lined up with a very attack minded selection in a bid to test United as much as possible.

With the weather switching between deep mid-Winter and late Spring outside, the stadium roof was closed prior to kick off and the already charged atmosphere was enhanced because of it. With the preliminaries out of the way, including an excellent BT Girls Cup Final, it was down to the teams to provide the main entertainment of the day, accompanied by what can only be described as a wall of sound.

The game started at a frantic pace with probes forward from both sides, and it was a mistake at the back that would cost United dear in just the 3rd minute. Kev Gray lobbed the bouncing ball back towards Westwood and his kick was charged down by Trundle. The Swans were quickly on to it and a cross to the far post found the Swans main danger man, who had peeled away in to space. Lee Trundle took the ball down beautifully, 14 yards out, before stroking it beyond the Carlisle keeper and in to the bottom of the net.

Corners were exchanged in a very open passage of play and United won one in the 8th minute after good work by Holmes. Gueret came for it and missed, but the Gray header that followed the mistake was also cleared. Swansea broke quickly from the resulting corner through Trundle and Britton, but the latter was stopped in his tracks 8 yards from goal as he tried to bully his way through. Keiren Westwood was able to gather the loose ball.

United had the ball to feet in the 12th minute as they started to settle more, and they worked their way down the left, opening a route to the bye line with Holmes, Murphy and Aranalde combining. It came to Hawley but his cross was cut out at the near post, despite there being plenty of blue shirts in the box.

At the other end the Swans came down the left when Ricketts turned two markers inside out before drilling the ball wickedly across the face of goal. Akinfenwe took it down but Gray was with him, scooping it clear just before he could shoot. The Swans were looking strong going forward and Westwood was being tested with some accurate balls in to the box, taking a knock in the 16th minute for his troubles. A new jersey was required as swift patch up work stemmed the bleeding from a cut to the head. 

A long delay was followed by a Lumsdon free kick that was easy for Gueret to take on the full. He wasted no time in releasing it and Trundle was able to slide Robinson in on goal. He took it to the 18 yard box but dragged the shot wide of the target.

A 27th minute throw from Arnison brought what the blue side of the stadium thought was an equaliser as Holmes latched on to a nod down from Hawley. His 15 yard shot was a stinger that Gueret could only palm back down. Hawley was on to it, nodding it in to the empty net, but the flag was raised for offside bringing an abrupt end to the celebrations.

Murphy and Holmes pressed well in the 32nd minute, almost forcing a mistake at the back, but the defence was able to clear before the chance was made. A ball over the top at the Carlisle end found Gray and Akinfenwe battling for possession and the United captain stood strong, managing to see it out for a corner. Britton smashed the half clearance in to the crowd from 18 yards as Westwood got half a fist on the cross in.

Nicely taken header

Andy Robinson was next to try his luck from distance when he raced in from the right but his shot was another that was off target from the moment it left his boot. The scores were levelled in the 40th minute as the Swans allowed United to do their own thing at a long throw. Aranalde put it in, Holmes flicked it on at the near post and Adam Murray, completely unmarked, was able to head it in to the net from just 8 yards out.

It could have got even better just 2 minutes later as Hawley took the ball down and turned in on goal. The defence was left rooted and it was down to Gueret to race out and block the shot, leaving Hawley wondering what might have been. It was a very entertaining match and Akinfenwe showed his strength in the next attack when he rode a tackle in the 43rd minute. He spotted that the chance was on for the shot and was within millimetres of the bottom corner as he beat Westwood's full stretch dive.

Aranalde had a 25 yard free kick blocked as half time approached and Adam Murray went in the book for a rash challenge on Ricketts tight by the touchline. The last incident of an extended first 45 minutes saw Britton charging away, only to be stopped by Billy. However, the ball broke nicely for Tudur-Jones 23 yards out and he went for glory, shanking the volley and failing to threaten the United sticks.

Half Time: United 1 - 1 Swansea

It was another explosive start from the Swans as they could have retaken the lead twice within the space of 60 seconds at the start of the second half.

Akinfenwe and Britton were the first to open things up when they linked on the right. A blocked 20 yard shot fell nicely for Roibinson and, unmarked, he should probably have done better as he put it too close to Westwood. The United stopper was able to collect it low down to his right. The next chance was even better as another teasing ball over the top was difficult for Gray to deal with. His attempted clearance came back off Akinfenwe and he shot early, bringing a superb save from Westwood this time.

Lumsdon had a shot blocked in the 55th minute as United tried to get their own football going again and an Aranalde cross on 58 minutes took a couple of ricochets before being swept clear. United almost had an exact repeat of their first half goal as Aranalde launched another throw in to the area for Holmes to get on to. He won it, but Murray was beaten to the ball by Gueret this time.

The hour mark saw an incisive break forward as Hawley ran through the middle before passing to Aranalde. The cross was a good one but it was put behind by Monk before Hawley could make it his.

Trundle had another diagonal run that caused problems shortly after but it was a decent spell for United, as they got themselves in to good positions. A corner that came from nothing in the 62nd minute led to a Lumsdon shot being blocked. It looped up teasingly and Livesey was able to put it back in to the mixer. Monk was there was once to put it away for another corner. From this one Danny Livesey was the liveliest, and he threw himself at the ball only to see his volley cleared off the line with Gueret beaten.

It became a midfield tussle for long periods with some considered defending from both teams. Lee Trundle had to make an opportunity for himself as he turned on the edge of the area, under pressure, and got a good shot on target. Gray got enough on the block to make it an easy one for Westwood.

Hawley held the ball up well in the 74th minute, waiting for runners from midfield, and his cross towards the penalty spot was glanced too far wide of the post by Murphy. It was becoming end to end again and a corner, won by the trickery of Trundle in the 77th minute saw the same player waste it as he sent a left footed angled shot high and wide.

Murphy had a sighter in the 81st minute but it was the forerunner to a direct attack from Swansea that saw them regain the lead. Akinfenwe bustled his way through on to the high ball and, having appeared to drag Gray back and help the ball along with his hand, was able to go one on one with Westwood. He got enough on the toe poke to beat the keeper, despite a strong hand that almost did the job.

Chris Billy tried to restore parity with a 25 yarder, but he was wide as Carlisle knew they would have to throw caution to the wind with the clock ticking down. However, the Swans kept the ball well making it very frustrating for the Cumbrians. Grand was brought on in his striking role for the closing few minutes and the blue shirts thought they'd done it when Glenn Murray produced a superb overhead kick that hit the bar after being tipped on by Gueret. The corner that followed saw three players converge, but none could get the connection that was needed and the keeper was able to hold it.

Carlisle did indeed put the kitchen sink in to the Swans half but Hawley found Gueret with a diagonal shot after being put through by Grand and Aranalde also had a volley blocked. It was to be the last attack and the whistle was blown on a valiant effort by the Cumbrians.

The disappointment so evident will come more from a feeling of having been robbed than it was from the mere fact of losing. It can't be denied that Swansea were the best team that we have faced this season but there were some crucial, debatable decisions that went against Carlisle and cost them the game. However, that's the way it is, so what they must do now is pick up and move on. The positives from this game far outweigh the negatives and, should they play like this between now and the end of the season, then the only way really is up!

Goals

United - A Murray (40)

Swansea - Trundle (3), Akinfenwe (81)

Bookings

United - A Murray (45), Arnison (64)

Teams

United - Westwood, Arnison (Grand 90), Gray, Livesey, Aranalde, A Murray (Hackney 79), Billy, Lumsdon, Murphy, Holmes (G Murray 71), Hawley. Not Used - Williams, McGill.

Swansea - Gueret, Ricketts, O'Leary (Knight 63), Tate, Britton, Akinfenwa, Trundle, Monk, Lowe, Robinson (Martinez 84), Tudur Jones. Not Used - Murphy, Austin, Forbes.