Manager John Ward promised that he wouldn't be tinkering with the team ahead of the First Round FA Cup tie with Grimsby Town and he was true to his word as he kept the same starting eleven who had claimed, and held on to, top spot in League One in the preceding games.
It was a tense start, with neither side settling, and the first chance of the day came in the 6th minute when Grimsby found space out wide. The delivery in to the box from Hegarty had Aranalde stretching, and his header lobbed up in to the air. Gary Jones and Danny Boshell converged, and it needed Peter Murphy to get in the way and deflect it over the top, as the stab towards the target threatened to nestle in the back of the net.
United responded with an 11th minute surge that brought a cross from Raven that Clarke had to head behind, under pressure from Graham. 60 seconds later United sprung the offiside trap with Graham again making room for himself in a good area. He spotted Gall in support, but it was a difficult pass for the wide man to control and the touch took it away from a shooting opportunity, easing the pressure on the visitors.
The Cumbrians came back at pace on 16 minutes when a ball through the middle had Gall and Garner interested. Kevin Gall took control, shooting early and forcing Phil Barnes in to a hurried save. Aranalde and Graham weren't giving up, and two crosses followed as the Mariners struggled to clear their lines. They somehow got it clear, despite the number of blue shirts in attendance.
A flowing build up resulted in an excellent chance in the 22nd minute when Hackney and Aranalde worked on their markers on the left. The cross, curling towards the penalty spot, was met on the full by Garner but he couldn't keep it down and his powerful effort angled over the bar.
United were stunned on 28 minutes when the defence got themselves in to a tangle, allowing Bolland the room he needed to take a touch on a bouncing ball before smashing it beyond Westwood and in to the back of the net, giving his side the first half lead.
Hackney had a tame volley fly straight at Barnes on 32 minutes, following a neat nod down from Garner, as the home side dug deep in an attempt to work their way back in to the game.
Danny Graham was sent clear again in the 37th minute, leaving the back line for dead as he broke off the shoulder of the last man. The keeper started to advance in an attempt to close him down, and Graham went for the lob, trying to pick out the top corner. It screwed off his boot, and dropped well wide in the end.
It was nearly all square on 39 minutes when Bridge-Wilkinson sent in a wicked corner. Livesey rose highest, and beat Barnes with his header, only to find Jamie Clarke in the way on the line. His block dropped nicely for Joe Garner, 3 yards out, but he was leaning back and he crashed it over the bar as he put too much on it.
A long kick from Keiren Westwood brought confusion at the back for Grimsby, and Graham used the moment to get the ball to the lurking Chris Lumsdon. His left foot shot was goal bound until Newey got himself in the way, deflecting it wide for the corner.
Half Time: United 0 - 1 Grimsby
The Cumbrians needed to find a spark, as much to lift the crowd as anything, but it was an early scare as Grimsby attacked with purpose in the 48th minute. The ball in to the box was difficult to deal with, but Jones couldn't find the touch he needed to take him towards Westwood.
United started to see more of the ball, and they were close to drawing level in the 53rd minute when a short corner routine left Grimsby at sixes and sevens. Hackney sent in a blistering cross, and Fenton did enough to head it behind as Livesey steamed in to get the touch.
Grimsby were working hard, making things very difficult for the Cumbrians, with the home side restricted to playing in the midfield. Gall tried to change the tide in the 65th minute with a run down the right, but his deep cross was turned away for a corner as it evaded all of the attacking Carlisle players.
The Mariners looked to have doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Newey put a free kick in to the box, evading everyone. Westwood was relieved to see it fall wide of the target as his defence remained rooted to the spot.
A better spell for United was brought about by an initial tussle from Jeff Smith, and he sent the cross in once he'd seen off the challenges. Carlton got there first, directing a volley through the legs of the defence, but Fenton was in the way, stopping the ball on its way to goal.
United were denied a penalty in the 70th minute when the officials decided that a handball had taken place just outside the box, and Bridge-Wilkinson thundered that one straight at the target. Barnes was there to block, although its fair to say that he didn't know too much about it.
Bridge-Wilkinson was the most likely to find the killer pass and he thought that he'd done just that on 72 minutes when he floated it forward for Carlton. Barnes came out to try to punch it, but the United striker was there first, heading strongly, but over the bar.
Carlton showed a bit of skill in the 81st minute, stepping over the ball and dropping his shoulder, but his delivery was gathered by Barnes at the second attempt as the supporting players hung back at the edge of the area.
With 6 minutes to go Tom Newey handed United a lifeline when he handled deliberately in the area following a Bridge-Wilkinson cross. Zigor Aranalde stepped up to take it, and made no mistake as he whisked it in to the back of the net.
The Cumbrians were suddenly bouncing, and Joe Garner had one cleared off the line in the next attack as his effort went in to the ground before arrowing up towards the roof of the net. Bennett was watchful, and he got it away from just beneath the bar. Jeff Smith should have done better when he received the ball at his feet from the corner, but he blazed it high as he failed to get any kind of control on the shot.
It was all about whether United could score, with the clock ticking down, and Bridge-Wilkinson was unlucky when his snapshot clipped off the heel of Justin Whittle and spun away for a corner, with most of the crowd celebrating in anticipation.
Joe Garner had a very late half chance when he sent a header wide, but it was honours even and a replay required to settle the tie.
Goals
United - Aranalde (84 pen)
Grimsby - Bolland (28)
Bookings
United - Garner (25)
Grimsby - Newey (57, 84 sent off), Clarke (82)
Teams
United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Gall, Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney (Smith 66), Garner, Graham (Carlton 66). Subs - Howarth, Arnison, McDermott.
Grimsby - Barnes, Clarke, Newey, Hunt, Bennett, Fenton, Bolland (Till 90), Boshell (Toner 64), Hegarty, Jones, Butler (Whittle 85). Subs - Montgomery, Taylor.
Away fans - 130
