Roddy Collins sprang a surprise by leaving last week's goalscorer Jonny Allan out of the sixteen altogether, with Brendan McGill, on loan from Sunderland, coming in on the right wing for his debut. Sunny early weather gave way to cloudier conditions as the game kicked off with a very healthy contingent of about 500 United fans at one end of the Feethams ground.

The first incident of note saw United's left sided midfielder Alex Haddow go down and there was concern amongst players. He was carried off by physio Neil Dalton and while he was away a poor Stuart Whitehead pass back almost caused disaster but Luke Weaver sprinted out to clear. Barry Conlon hooked over after a home corner on 10 minutes. Haddow then went down again and this time had to be taken off for good, to be replaced by Mo Harkin. McGill switched wings as Harkin took his spot on the right.

The change didn't seem to effect United too much. They took the lead after 17 minutes. A Stuart Elliott volley from 30 yards bounced high up in the air off Dave Brightwell and fell invitingly for Halliday (pictured) who controlled and volleyed past Andy Collett in the Darlo goal to give Carlisle the lead for the first time in any game this season. Within a minute Darlo were back in it with a chance from a cross but Weaver grabbed a header back in with aplomb. Halliday was looking much livelier than last week and appeared fired up to prove a point to his manager, who is known to have five players lined up for the chop.

On the half-hour young Danny Mellanby headed just wide after a testing cross in as the home team continued to look dangerous sporadically. However, the game went further away from them in the 36th minute. The persistent Richie Foran chased a ball into the box, refused to give it away and eventually won a penalty after referee Matthewson adjudged a defender to have handled. Foran demanded to take it, stepped up and confidently despatched the ball past Collett. All was well with the world - at last.

But the Cumbrians couldn't relax and their defence was soon stretched again. The home team forced a corner with a long range shot that was deflected wide of the post. From the kick in dangerman Mellanby on his knees conjured a header that crept wide of the post. Three minutes from half-time Mark Ford and Mellanby combined well in the box and the youngster's back-heel set up Ford who should have done better than screw wide when a goal was definitely on.

Six minutes of time was added on and Harkin shot wide for the Blues. But two minutes in to the extra time, Neil Wainwright converted an easy opportunity after a series of clever one-twos inside the box. It was game on again and the home team had their tails up. Both Richard Hodgson and Mellanby than had further chances to bring the Quakers level and it was a relieved United side who went off with their lead still intact.

The home side began the second half looking ominously strong. The livewire Mellanby had a shot saved by Weaver. Then they forced a corner kick and Weaver made a good catch after Brightwell headed the ball back across goal. Within a minute a Mark Winstanley howler almost allowed in the home side but Whitehead rode to the rescue with a saving tackle. United had their first chance of the second period on 50 minutes and they should have moved 3-1 in front. A Birch cross found Foran just a yard out but he scooped over the bar when it really must have been easier to score.

An agitated Collins reacted by pulling off Winstanley and replacing him with Lee Maddison. On 55 minutes another chance came the visitors' way. Halliday was through but tried to go round Collett when he should have squared to Foran. On 58 minutes Conlon showed good skill and strength to turn in the box but his left foot effort just cleared the bar. On 65 it was the ever-willing Foran beating several men in the box and firing over the top when he too should have looked to pass to an unmarked colleague. The misses were to prove ultimately crucial.

A Darlington free kick on 73 minutes by sub Mark Convery found the head of the increasingly influential Conlon but his effort flew just wide of the target. Richard Hodgson crudely challenged Peter Murphy and went into the book. He then went off, to be replaced by Kirk Jackson. Heckingbottom also came on for Darlo, to replace right back Harper. Halliday had a chance with nine minutes left but he shot narrowly wide across goal from an angle after a good combination with Harkin.

Weaver came out of goal bravely to deny Jackson. With 4 minutes left Elliott fired in a cross-shot that forced a rare Carlisle corner. The pressure began to build again as the game went into added time. For the second time in the afternoon Gary Bennett's men used the extra minutes to their advantage. Conlon's shot had just hit Weaver to bounce away for a corner when he took advantage of a follow-up throw in. The ball was flicked on and he was on hand to turn the ball home past Weaver.

Al's Verdict : A nightmare in added time. Poor concentration levels let us down at the end of each half costing us a two-goal lead that we had done exceptionally well to earn with Halliday and Foran outstanding up front. The home team looked good going forward too and this was never going to be a goalless draw. But the game turned in the second half when we had golden chances to make it 3-1 and failed to find the net. Darlo had their chance and took it and we'll have to learn something from this hard lesson.