Greg Abbott took charge of the first game of his second spell as caretaker-manager for the FA Cup first-round visit of Blue Square strugglers Grays Athletic.

Ben Williams returned between the sticks, with loanee Ben Alnwick sidelined by a late Spurs decision from new manager Harry Redknapp, and Jennison Myrie-Williams got the nod up front along side Danny Graham.

The Cumbrians created the first opening of the day when Simon Hackney intercepted the ball deep inside his own half. He raced forward before playing Myrie-Williams in to the area with a lovely weighted pass. His first touch took him wide of the target, but it took a smothered save from Button to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

McCollin almost made something of a hopeful ball forward on 4 minutes when a cheeky back heel wrong-footed Raven. The big striker had just Williams to beat, but he scuffed a mis-hit shot in to the side netting.

Andre McCollin wasted a good chance to put the visitors ahead on 18 minutes when John Welsh was robbed of possession on the half way line. McCollin jinked his way to the edge of the box but Ben Williams made an excellent save, diving low to his right, to get a hand to the goal-bound shot.

Grays kept their shape well, restricting the space in midfield, and Thurgood was handed a shooting opportunity on a plate when Gowling passed the ball out to him from defence. He ran forward, but pulled his left foot shot wide from the edge of the area.

Bridge-Wilkinson mis-timed a volley in the 35th minute when Kavanagh spotted his run from training ground routine corner. He was unmarked, but he couldn't connect and the chance was gone.

Ben Williams had to be quick off the mark on the stroke of half time when Livesey crashed an attempted clearance off McCollin's thighs. The Grays man was on to it like a flash, but the Carlisle keeper matched his pace and was able to clear.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Grays

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson started the second half in determined mood, bursting forward from midfield and passing the ball to Kavanagh, who was well placed 22-yards from the target. Stuart threw himself in the way and did enough to block the volley.

Myrie-Williams sent a left foot shot just wide in the 49th minute, when he cut in from the right, and Button appeared to have it covered as it skipped up off the surface.

Grays grabbed a shock lead on 52 minutes when John Welsh was penalised for a meaty challenge in midfield. Jon Ashton nodded the well-placed delivery back in to the danger area and captain Jamie Stuart buried it in to the bottom corner with a sweet volley from just 8-yards out.

Dave Raven picked Hackney out with a far post cross in the 58th minute, but his header back across the face of goal was nudged by Thurgood, and Button was able to grab it.

Button then had to collect the ball at Madine's feet as the young substitute challenged for it in the area, and there was more frustration when a Simon Hackney header, from a Raven cross, was ruled out for offside.

Hackney then sent one right at the keeper following a neat one touch move involving Horwood and Graham, but it was Grays who nearly extended the lead when Welsh raced clear and one on one with Williams. The Carlisle keeper kept his side in the tie with an excellent one handed save, tipping the fierce drive over the bar.

Grays kept it tight, but Madine had two shots blocked  as Grays failed to deal with a Kavanagh corner.

It was Gary Madine who finally levelled the scores for United, in the 84th minute, when he rose to meet a Kavanagh free kick from the right, nodding it in to the back of the net.

Bridge-Wilkinson was within a whisker of snatching the tie in the 90th minute when Madine laid the ball off for him. It sat up nicely, and his volley dipped just over the bar with Button beaten.

There was a late shout for a penalty as Kavanagh was bundled to the floor in the box, but the officials weren't interested and the visitors held on to take the tie to a replay in ten days time.

Goals

United - Madine (84)

Grays - Stuart (52)

Teams 

United - Williams, Raven, Gowling, Livesey, Horwood (J Smith 74), Hackney, Bridge-Wilkinson, Kavanagh, Welsh (Madine 59), Myrie-Williams (Taylor 59), Graham. Subs - Howarth, Carlton, Joyce, Keogh.

Grays - Button, Geir, Stuart, Ashton, Dayes (Elliott 67), Sloma, Welsh (Hickie 90), Wilnis (Davis 70), Cogan, McCollin, Thurgood. Subs - Taylor, Arnold, Bailey, Gray.

Away fans - 91