Abbott's delighted with Trophy effort.

Chesterfield 1 Carlisle United 3 CARLISLE United came through a tricky tie at Saltergate to take themselves one step closer to Wembley in this season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy competition.

Manager Greg Abbott said: "We have shown a lot of character because we felt the penalty decision was harsh.

"We dusted ourselves off, gritted our teeth and kept playing our football and we were very clinical in the second half.

"I am very pleased with that, and I am very pleased the lads have reacted in this way to the disappointment of the performance on Saturday."

The game took a while to get going, with little happening in the final third as both sides closed the play down with purpose.

A prolonged break in the proceedings disrupted the flow further when Taiwo and Gregor Robertson launched themselves into a crunching tackle in midfield.

There were few complaints at the stoppage in play, though, as it became clear Robertson was badly injured, and he left the field on a stretcher with a suspected broken left leg.

Chesterfield seemed to be rocked by the incident, and things suddenly started to open up for the Cumbrian visitors.

Kevan Hurst should have given his side the lead on 37 minutes when he arrived late at the far post. Matt Robson had done the hard work, but the United winger could not keep his shot down and he ballooned it over the bar from just three yards out.

Robson was the provider again on 40 minutes when he ran from deep to send Joe Anyinsah towards the box.

The first shot was blocked and the follow-up was disappointingly dragged wide with the width of the goal to aim at.

Jack Lester had Chesterfield's first shot on target of the game on 40 minutes when the ball came to him on the edge of the area, but Adam Collin was well placed and he parried it high and away from danger. Carlisle were made to rue their missed chances in time added on at the end of the first half when Scott Boden went down under pressure from Taiwo.

The referee took an age to make his decision, but he pointed to the spot after a brief glance at his assistant.

Substitute Darren Currie did the rest with a confident finish into the bottom corner. The Spireites increased the pace after the break and Lester used his skill to ride a string of tackles on his way to the 18-yard box. Collin did well to get both hands behind the shot and push it away to safety.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Chesterfield and Carlisle grabbed an equaliser on 72 minutes when Taiwo lifted the ball towards the back post.

Robson held his ground and finished it off with a downward header which squeezed in at Tommy Lee's near post.

It got even better for United on 68 minutes when substitute Peter Murphy, on the pitch for less than five minutes, rose majestically to meet a Clayton corner and powered his free header home from all of 16 yards.

The second half turnaround was completed on 78 minutes when the Cumbrians broke at pace from deep inside their own half.

Anyinsah fed it to Robson, and he looked up to see Manchester City loanee Adam Clayton arriving in support. He stayed calm and blasted the ball home.

CHESTERFIELD: Lee, Picken, Page, Breckin, Austin, Boden, Allott, Niven (Gray 85), Robertson (Currie 27), Lester, Talbot (Bowery 85). Subs (not used): Crossley, Hall.

Bookings: Allott (88). Goals: Currie (45 + 5 pen) CARLISLE: Collin, Keogh, Livesey, Harte (Murphy 64), Horwood, Hurst (Bridge-Wilkinson 61), Taiwo, Clayton, Robson, Anyinsah, Pericard (Offiong 71). Subs (not used) -Pidgeley, Kane.

Bookings: Livesey (30), Anyinsah (76), Clayton (78). Goals: Robson (62), Murphy (68).

Ref: Carl Boyeson (East Yorks) Att: 2,878

CAPTION(S):

CHARACTER Greg Abbott.