Young guns blast United through
Greg Abbott made three changes to his starting line up for the visit of Ipswich in the Capital One Cup second round game with Paul Thirlwell, Mike Edwards and Brad Potts coming back into the fray at the expense of Jake Jervis, Frank Simek and Danny Livesey.
And his side battled their way through to the round three draw with another excellent performance which was capped off by goals for teenagers Mark Beck and Dave Symington.
"Everyone is going to talk about the young lads, and rightly so," the manager said. "I thought Brad Potts got better and better as the game went on, particularly after he had a nervy start. Mark Beck made a significant impact and Dave Symington looked a real handful on the right with his power and pace."
A tense opening tipped in favour of the visitors as Carlisle conceded space in midfield with Drury and Martin seeing plenty of the ball. Luongo was first to test the target when he skipped past Noble and shot early. Collin had it covered as it bent past his upright.
United needed a set piece to cause any kind of threat and a McGovern delivery was won on the rise by Murphy on the edge of the area. Quick thinking from Cadamarteri almost released Berrett until Cresswell stuck a toe in the way.
Ipswich responded with a lightning quick break and a cross from the left from Cresswell was expertly touched on by Chopra. Emmanuel-Thomas took his time and steadied balance and it needed a brave lunge from Murphy to deflect the ball wide.
Adam Collin was at his best on 21 minutes when strength from Martin took him through Chantler and Edwards. Carson was unmarked but the keeper stayed big and completed a fine save with his legs as the sizeable Ipswich contingent readied themselves to celebrate.
The bright play from the Tractor Boys deserved a goal and they found themselves in front midway through the half when Emmanuel-Thomas cut inside and fed the ball to Luongo. The Tottenham-loanee still had plenty to do but his expertly measured shot flew through a ruck of bodies and nestled comfortably in the bottom corner.
The goal galvanised the Cumbrians and McGovern did well when he ghosted wide with the ball. Noble pulled free but he scuffed his shot and the target remained untroubled.
A piercing cross-field pass released Robson moments later and his whipped delivery found Cadamarteri making tracks. He had to adjust to make connection and was unlucky to see his diving header fly wide.
Robson took matters into his own hands as the home momentum gathered and two shots within the space of two minutes had Loach troubled as he scrambled to cover them.
Ipswich still had their moments though and Collin produced his save of the season so far when Chopra beat the offside trap to bear down on goal. A full length dive and a strong hand prevented the experienced front man from doubling the lead.
The half time team talk did its trick for Abbott as his team came out determined to stamp their authority. Mike Edwards stayed forward following a cleared free kick and Loach had to pluck his header from beneath the bar as it threatened to dip into the net.
James Berrett then shaved the woodwork from a tight angle when Robson recovered a McGovern cross with an overhead kick, and Robson went close again when he beat one challenge before drilling one over the bar.
Substitute Paddy Madden was into the action immediately, but on defensive duty as the ball skimmed off Peter Murphy from a wicked corner delivery. Collin was beaten but the striker was on hand to clear it off the line.
Ipswich suddenly found it to be tough going as the hosts upped the pace once more and Cadamarteri dived to get onto the end of a Potts drive, but he couldn't find a clean connection and the moment passed.
Paddy Madden put consecutive headers over the bar as Robson found his crossing range and the rejuvenated wide-man raised a round of applause himself when he let fly from 22-yards. Drury did the job for Ipswich to send that one clear.
A foray forward from Scotland gave the increasingly ruffled Tractor Boys a brief respite but he lost his balance when he needed it most and could only poke his effort into the side netting.
Mark Beck sent a warning shot across the bows that he was going to be a handful when he wrapped his left boot around an awkwardly bouncing ball. It was a difficult chance and it dropped just wide of the target.
The Cumbrian determination finally bore fruit on the stroke of full time when Robson clipped a lovely cross into the penalty area. Mark Beck held his man off and registered his first senior goal with a deft header which left Loach on his backside.
"It was a great cross and an unbelievable feeling when it went in," Beck explained. "I didn't know what to do or anything. There was no celebration planned and I think I just ended up punching the air or something. It's just fantastic."
Carlisle continued the attacking momentum as they entered extra time and Madden should have done better when he timed his run to perfection to meet another telling cross from Robson. He kept his eye on it but was disappointed to see it fly high.
Brunton Park erupted with 99 minutes on the clock when Symington played the ball inside to Beck. He spun on the spot and returned the favour to send the young winger into the box. A deep breath was followed by a thunderbolt of a shot which signalled another first senior goal for one of the club's first year professionals.
"I can't even find the words, I'm just over the moon," Symington said. "It's what you dream about, and I had a chance like that a few weeks ago. I was determined not to get this one wrong and it was great to see it go in."
Symington grew in stature after the goal and he was at the centre of everything as travel weary Ipswich struggled to cope. The pick of the chances from a pulsating close to the game was a towering 28-yard shot from the youngster which had Loach initially dropping the wrong way. A quick twist allowed him to get just enough on it, but the damage was done as Carlisle claimed their place in round three on the back of another excellent team performance.
"All we keep doing as a group is going out there to try and do our best," Abbott said. "There are a lot of good decisions made along the way and we know the obstacles we face.
"With this, we've gone into the next round and we might just get ourselves a big night. I hope we do because it's something we all deserve. It's this level of performance we want to see more often than not. If we get it then we'll be heading in the right direction."
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Goals
United - Beck (89), Symington (99)
Ipswich - Luongo (23)
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Bookings
United - Berrett (43)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Collin, Potts, Edwards, Murphy, Chantler, McGovern (Symington 65), Thirlwell, Noble, Berrett (Madden 55), Robson, Cadamarteri (Beck 78). Subs - Gillespie, Simek, Welsh, Bugno.
Ipswich Town - Loach, Cresswell, Chambers, Edwards (Ainsley 16), Emmanuel-Thomas (Stevenson 77), Chopra, Martin, Luongo, Drury, Smith, Carson (Scotland 64). Subs - Delaney, Lee-Barrett, Murray, Lawrence.
Ref: Scott Mathieson
Att: 3,296 (390 away fans)
