It was FA Cup first round day for the Cumbrians this afternoon as they made their second trip of the season to Whaddon Road to face a Cheltenham side suffering from a run of 3 straight League defeats.

A continuing injury for left back Zigor Aranalde meant a return to central defence for Danny Livesey as Peter Murphy moved across to cover the missing Spaniard.

For the Robins, Steve Guinan made his first start of the season following a good showing in the Reserves in the midweek.

It was almost the perfect start for Carlisle when Murphy found Hackney wanting the ball from a throw in on the left, in the first attack of the game. The winger held the ball up well before teasing a low cross in to the box, where Derek Holmes reacted first. He appeared to have nowhere to go but shot accurately, first time, forcing a parried save from Higgs.

At the other end the Robins had United stretched in the 6th minute when Melligan broke away down the right. His cross towards Odejayi was put behind for a corner by Livesey, but the danger wasn't over there. A pinpoint corner found Duff on his own and Murphy, on the line, had to keep his eye on the downward header to clear it, with Westwood beaten. After a brief spell of pinball the ball again found its way to Duff, and he brought a diving save from Westwood with a crisp low drive.

Another corner from Melligan brought a weak header from Caines before United themselves had a good spell of pressure. Nade found himself on the end of a deep Murphy cross in the 11th minute and he trapped the ball well, feeding it in to Holmes. He in turn found Hackney 16 yards out but Caines was on hand to block it. Murphy picked it up and delivered early, once more picking out Hawley in space. He played a short pass backwards to Hackney but Higgs was able to gather the low shot comfortably when it came.

United's first corner of the match in the 24th minute brought a good chance for Gray as he used Livesey to gain some extra height. Unfortunately he couldn't get a clean connection and popped his header wide.

Billy picked the ball up in midfield from a scuffed clearance and immediately found Hawley breaking away to the left. Hackney held it when it came, slid it back to Hawley, and he directed his piledriver straight at the waiting Higgs.

In a game that threatened to bring a goal, without the ball quite falling in the right place for either team, Armstrong got two yards in midfield and went for a 25 yarder. Gray blocked it but it flew out to the unmarked Melligan, who was watched closely by Murphy. United's left back stood tall and was able to clear behind for a corner.

Wilson was next to go close on the half hour mark when he ran through the midfield and had just Arnison to beat. Opting to try and pick his spot he wrapped his foot round it from 19 yards out but Westwood was able to watch as it flew well wide of the angle of the goal.

The 43rd minute brought two real moments of worry for United, the first of which was all about the pace of Melligan. He got round the back of Murphy and was able to play a one / two off Odejayi before dinking a looping ball to the back post. McCann got to it but had too much to do to keep it on target.

In the very next attack Guinan was able to feed Wilson in on the overlap with the Cumbrian defence pushed well up the field. He raced in to the box and was left frustrated as a powerful drive rattled behind off the side of the woodwork.

United had held the lions share of possession in the opening 45 minutes with Cheltenham looking dangerous going forward. All in all a very even half of football that somehow didn't produce a goal.

Half Time: Cheltenham 0 - 0 United

The Cumbrians had the wind to contend with in the second half and it was the elements that created the first chance for the Robins in the 46th minute.

A high, swirling ball was half cleared by Livesey and Odejayi was on hand to swing his foot at it, 22 yards out, without finding the power he really needed.

A lovely tackle from Gray in the 53rd moment stopped Victory in his tracks just as he had the goal at his mercy in a very dangerous goal scoring position.

The best move of the game came in the 57th minute, started by Murphy from a free kick in his own half. Hawley controlled it on the edge of the box, flicked it to Hackney and he volleyed a first time cross in to the area. Holmes rose well and, 15 yards out, made Higgs tip the ball behind for a corner with a header that was dipping below the bar.

Odejayi burst down the right at speed 60 seconds later and was left shouting at his strike partner Guinan when a superb low cross fizzled away to nothing.

Slack defending brought a goal from nothing for the home side in the 64th minute when Odejayi was allowed to loft a looping header high, from a wicked Wilson cross. With the second ball there to be cleared no-one in a blue shirt reacted, allowing McCann to steam in and volley it in to the back of the net from just 8 yards.  

Simpson immediately reacted by bringing Brendan McGill in to the fold, replacing Nade, with 23 minutes to go.

Cheltenham seemed happy to sit back after their goal and United had to work hard to try to get behind what was an increasingly packed defence. Billy tried his luck from 20 yards on 74 minutes but the strike, although a rasper, was never on target.

Glenn Murray came on signalling a switch to 4-3-3 for Carlisle whilst John Ward countered by replacing Guinan with Spencer.

Immediately after the substitutions McCann again came close when he ran along the face of midfield and whistled a 28 yarder about a foot wide with Westwood scrambling across to claim it.

The 86th minute brought the first real opening for a long period for United when Murphy lobbed a ball forward towards Glenn Murray. His cushioned header dropped nicely for Holmes but the big striker crashed his volley over the bar under pressure from two defenders.

With Livesey and Grand pushed forward in search of an equaliser Carlisle were left light at the back and Bird nearly capitalised when a lovely bit of skill took him beyond Murphy. The shot was wild when it came in.

The last moments of the match saw United camped forward and Glenn Murray had a volley blocked in the 6 yard box when Grand found him with a soft downward header. With the last kick of the game Cumbrian hearts were broken as a Karl Hawley goal was ruled out when he was judged to be offiside as he cracked it in to the roof of the net.

This was a frustrating day for a United side who had enough of the possession to feel disappointed about going out. The ball just wouldn't drop for them as they spent alot of time in the Robins half and the journey up the M6 will leave plenty of time to reflect on what could have been. This was a decent performance with a result that didn't quite match it. It's back to League action next weekend and the lads are bound to want to put this one right.

Goals

Cheltenham - McCann (64)

Teams

Cheltenham - Higgs, Gill, Victory, Duff, Caines, Wilson (Vincent 82), Guinan (Spencer 77), McCann, Odejayi, Armstrong, Melligan (Bird 89). Not Used - Brown, Townsend.

United - Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Gray, Murphy, Nade (McGill 67), Billy, Lumsdon, Hackney (G Murray 76), Holmes (Grand 86), Hawley. Not Used - Williams, A Murray.

Travelling Fans - 395