The first-round FA Youth Cup draw brought Fleetwood Town to Brunton Park on Tuesday night.
The winners knew that they would face either Stockport County or Harrogate Town away in round two, but there was the small matter of this tie to be taken care of first up.
On the night it came down to who worked the ball better in both boxes with the visiting Cod Army ruthless in front of goal and tenacious, and sometimes lucky, in their defending.
It was United who came out of the blocks looking the sharpest, with Nugent and Potts linking up to put Hardy in space out wide. A neat delivery was met by striker Nic Bollado, but he was disappointed as he sent his header straight at McMullan.
The hosts were lively in the tackle and Nugent forced his way down the left flank, with plenty in support. Park took over, and he dinked it inside for Bollado to strike. McMullan got a boot to it and the ball somehow spun past the upright, with the keeper relieved to be let off the hook.
Fleetwood started to settle and Marsh skipped through a challenge before bringing Arthur into play. An early cross had Jake Allan stretched and the defender turned away in disgust as Referee Chris Joyce pointed to the spot, indicating that a hand had been used.
Mikey Lane placed the ball on the spot and left Boyd with no chance as he sent the stopper the wrong way.
The home side were clearly rocked and the lead was doubled just seven minutes later when Kyle King ripped a beauty of a corner into the mix. Red shirts were mobile as blue shirts remained static and Kayden Hughes said thank you very much as he rattled a fierce header into the roof of the net.
There were shouts for a penalty at the other end when Bollado appeared to be dragged to the floor just as he wriggled clear to shoot, but the officials showed no interest and play was waved on.
It became scrappy in the lead-up to the break, with both teams wasteful in the final third, and there was plenty for the young Blues to think about as they headed up the tunnel.
Any thoughts of a comeback were soon dashed when a huge kick forward was allowed to bounce with just two minutes on the second half clock. Zane Marsh got a toe to it, and he then bent his run, pushing wide before turning into the area. He feinted, then shot low, and Boyd was horrified as it whistled through legs and into his bottom corner.
The same player was left all alone four minutes later as a deflected Arthur cross came his way. He leaped and picked his spot with a close-range header.
A change of shape and some tactical substitutions brought the best spell of the game for the Cumbrians, and Hardy pulled one past the post when he was picked out by Park.
The lively Romeo Park then beat his marker before floating a pinpoint cross past the back line. Hardy flicked it, and that touch proved to be crucial as it took the ball beyond Bollado, who was waiting at the back stick to finish it off.
Carlisle deserved the consolation of a goal, but they were left frustrated as a deep free kick from Carr skipped off the surface. Bollado had to stretch to connect and he was left with his head in his hands as his header sailed high over the target.
Another free kick from the same area was met by Allan as he steamed in, but his touch took it wide of the mark.
And the visiting goal lived a charmed life in time added on when Nugent drilled it low into the area. Swinburn threw a boot at it, as did Bollado, and Walsh was also involved in the scramble as the ball pinged around on the line. Khela kept his eye on it and relieved the pressure with a swipe of a clearance.
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Goals
Fleetwood Town - Lane (11 pen), Hughes (17), Marsh (47, 51)
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Bookings
Carlisle United - Allan (11)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Boyd, Potts, Bell, Carr, Nugent, Allan (Walsh 69), Bollado, Hetherington (Swinburn 66), Hardy, Park, Hill (Fitzpatrick 56). Not used: Barry, Voortman, Fleming, Sharpe.
Fleetwood Town - McMullan, Jones (Daha 78), Arthur, Khela, Johnson, Hughes, Kearns, Morrison, Lane (Richmond 68), Marsh (Brown 83), King. Not used: Imasuen, Cragg, Roberts, Namputu.
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Referee - Mr Christopher Joyce
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Attendance - 453
