For the second season running, Greg Abbott will be leading his team out at Wembley and hoping that the final defeat to Southampton twelve months ago stands Carlisle in good stead when they face Brentford on Sunday 3rd April.
The Cumbrians went to Huddersfield on Tuesday night with a 4-0 first leg advantage, although the Terriers did their utmost to restore parity, scoring three times but unable to find a leveller with United winning 4-3 on aggregate.
Carlisle will now return to Wembley to face Brentford and they will be determined to avoid a repeat of last season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final where Southampton ran out 4-1 winners.
The Bees booked their place in the final on Monday night by winning 2-1 at Exeter which gave them a 3-2 aggregate triumph. It was especially pleasing for the west London side considering that Andy Scott had been sacked days earlier as manager, with Nicky Forster steering them through.
It could well be an evenly-matched final, with Carlisle and Brentford level on points in the League One table, although United have played two games less. The teams met at Brunton Park at the beginning of the season, with the Blues running out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Gary Madine and Ian Harte.