With so many Northern League games to play before the end of April, the last thing Carlisle City needed was a game in a preliminary round of a league cup.
But they hosted Brandon United and after a 3-3 draw in 90 minutes the tie went straight to penalties, with City going through 4-3.
The two sides had met in the league at the start of last month with Brandon running out 3-0 winners.
A foul by Olsen on Morris in the 19th minute was to lead to the first goal as the free-kick just outside the box was tapped in by the unmarked Caygill. However, the lead did not last long as City were level within two minutes as Olsen’s right-wing cross was headed in by Holt for his seventh goal of the season.
Brandon responded and Olsen cleared well at the back post with Hewitson waiting to pounce just behind him, and keeper Townsley saved from Brown soon after.
City were close to going ahead on 35 minutes as Bradbury managed to take the ball around Coombes but could not squeeze his shot into the empty net.
Brandon went back in front on 42 minutes as City’s defence again allowed too much space, andHewitson’s shot easily beat Townsley.
The second half almost began in dramatic fashion as Coombes completely missed his kick as a pass was rolled to him, and his blushes were spared as the ball drifted narrowly wide.
The resulting corner from Atkinson was poor. Action then swung to the other end as Townsley saved well from Hewitson and the City defence had to withstand some strong pressure at this stage.
On 57 minutes, Grandison’s cross was held well by Coombes and as play flowed to the other end, Olsen’s weak back-header almost let in Morris but his shot flew wide.
In the 70th minute, it was 2-2 as Johnstone’s persistence won a corner for City, and the flag-kick was headed in powerfully by Kirkup.
City then went ahead for the first time five minutes later when an excellent lob from Palmer beat the floundering Coombes.
Within two minutes it should have been all square again but Hewitson fired wide from 10 yards. At the other end Studholme could have added a fourth but his shot rolled wide of the far post.
In the 86th minute the game swung again as a free-kick was harshly awarded against Bradbury and, somehow, Brown beat Townsley from a seemingly impossible angle.
When the penalty shoot-out decided it Hewitson put Brandon ahead only for Atkinson to level, before saved from Oldfield.
The second City kick was converted by Kerr before Brown brought the scores level. Palmer was successful before Townsley made his second save, blocking Caygill’s effort.
The drama continued as Bradbury had his kick saved, and Mitchell scored to leave the pressure on Kirkup. He kept his nerve to beat Coombes and send City through to a first round away tie at Billingham Synthonia.
