The Second Round of the 07 / 08 Johnstone's Paint Trophy brought a return to the starting line up for Paul Arnison, Kev Gall and Jeff Smith, with manager John Ward looking for his team to secure a place in the next stage and build on the impressive display from the weekend.
It was almost a dream start for the Cumbrians when, in the 2nd minute, Linwood attempted a back header that was never going to reach Danby. Graham moved in to position, waited for it to settle, and tried to bury it beyond the keeper with a crisp volley. The big stopper spread himself and got enough on it to make sure that it flew away for a corner.
United were playing well, keeping the ball and threatening to break through the hard working defence, and the reward came in the 11th minute with a very incisive move that split City in two. Gall and Smith combined with a neat, tight exchange of passes that left Kev Gall with just Danby to beat. He picked his spot, stroking it in to the bottom corner to give his side the lead.
It should have been level pegging on the quarter hour when Mark Hughes went on a run, aiming at the heart of the Carlisle back line. He committed Westwood, taking it round him, and had the width of the goal to aim at as he prepared to celebrate. Leaning back, he put far too much on it and somehow missed the target, accompanied by the jeers of a very unsympathetic Brunton Park crowd.
Chester were having the better of the play all of a sudden and they made it count on 19 minutes with a sweeping move down the left. Mcmanus supplied the cross, and Partridge slammed it home as he swung his foot through the delivery, leaving Westwood with no chance.
McManus was next to go close as Chester kept pressing forward, but his 20 yard snapshot, after good work from Yeo, was always rising and it crept over the bar with Westwood at full stretch to grasp it. Yeo was involved again on 27 minutes when he released McManus. He took advantage of the briefest sight of the target with another powerful effort that Westwood was equal to as he pushed it away for a corner.
United finally got back in to it in the 30th minute when Anyinsah found space on the right. An early cross looked to be covered by Danby, but he fumbled and needed Bolland to assist with a very hurried clearance.
The lead was restored in a fantastic manner in the 37th minute when Arnison picked out Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. A good take, followed by movement inside, wrong-footed his marker and he was able to drill a low shot in to the bottom corner from just outside the area.
Bridge-Wilkinson tried to repeat the feat in the 42nd minute when Anyinsah cut the ball back to him, following a deep Jeff Smith cross. Under pressure he had to rush the shot, and he couldn't keep it down as it curled over the bar.
Half Time: United 2 - 1 City
Chester came out of the blocks quickly with a dangerous cross in to the box, and Danny Livesey was relieved to be able to clear it long as 3 attacking players tried to get some kind of touch.
The visitors stayed forward, and Dinning tested Westwood with a shot that brought a late reaction from the unsighted keeper.
Carlisle got forward with purpose themselves in the 49th minute when Bridge-Wilkinson found Gall with an inch perfect pass. The United striker broke in to the area, and cut it back, expecting Graham to be there to receive it. It was a good idea, but the ball was too strong and it sped just in front of the United top scorer.
The Cumbrians extended their lead in the 53rd minute when Bridge-Wilkinson whipped a cruel corner away from the waiting defence. Livesey rose to get a towering header on to it, and Danby did well to parry it on the line. Kev Gall was first to react, and he swept the rebound in to the net to register his second of the evening.
60 seconds later and United notched up their eighth goal in the space of 3 days when Bridge-Wilkinson found yet another telling pass, this time over the top to Danny Graham. He dropped a shoulder and gained half a yard before slipping his shot past Danby to make it a more comfortable 4-1 score line.
McManus was still looking lively, and he sent one in to Westwood's midriff as he looked to spur his side on. At the other end Bridge-Wilkinson bent one just wide as he almost topped off a great personal performance with another brilliant strike, missing the upright by less than a yard.
Chris Holroyd made a real mark, having been on the pitch for less than 15 seconds when he came on for Hughes in the 70th minute, as he found himself unmarked at a Rutherford cross. A firm header left the keeper stranded, and there was a renewed glimmer of hope for the very young Chester side.
Kev Gall had sight of his hat-trick in the 78th minute when Lumsdon set him free, but he opted to shoot early, dragging it well wide with the side of his foot.
Danny Carlton had a header drop nicely for Danby and Rule fizzed one over the bar at the other end as both sides continued to try to entertain.
Westwood had one more save to make as Chester broke through with just 10 seconds left on the clock, and he got down well to make sure that there would be no late joy for Simon Yeo.
Goals
United - Gall (11, 53), Bridge-Wilkinson (37), Graham (54)
City - Partridge (19), Holroyd (70)
Teams
United - Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Aranalde, Anyinsah (Hackney 62), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith, Gall, Graham (Carlton 58). Subs - Howarth, Murphy, Garner.
City - Danby, Marples, Sandwith, Dinning, Bolland, Partridge (Rutherford 46), Yeo, Hughes (Holroyd 70), Wilson (Rule 55), Linwood, McManus. Subs - Palethorpe, Walker.
Away fans - 86
