Chester breaks Tamworth hearts
Blue Square Bet Premier League strugglers Tamworth came within four minutes of pulling off a shock win over Carlisle before being beaten 3-2 at Brunton Park.
Tamworth struck either side of half-time with goals from Tom Marshall and Danny Thomas. Carlisle got back in to the game with a goal by Gary Madine, his 13th of the season, straight after half-time.
Then Francois Zoko forced home Ben Marshall's 86th minute cross and James Chester's header right at the death crushed Tamworth's dreams of a place in the third round draw.
Tamworth took the game to their League One opponents from the start and the Cumbrians were at sixes and sevens as the Lambs twice had chances to grab a 14th-minute lead when first Kyle Perry's header was saved by the outstretched foot of Adam Collin then Thomas with the follow up hit Chester on the line.
Tamworth were quicker to the ball and it was no surprise when central defender Marshall headed in the first goal in the 25th minute meeting Stefan Oakes free-kick near the penalty spot and directing a downward header inside the right-hand post.
Carlisle came out showing more determination after the break and it took them just four minutes to equalise with a two-yard tap in from Madine after James Berrett's shot had come back off the post.
A free-kick on the edge of the area when Tom Taiwo bundled Thomas over and enabled Tamworth to regain the lead in the 75th minute.
Oakes hammered the free-kick through the wall and when it thumped against the post Thomas coming in from the left was first to react steering his shot past Collin.
Zoko threw Carlisle a lifeline in the 86th minute then Chester's header from a Berrett free-kick bounced agonisingly inside the right-hand post to deny Tamworth a deserved replay.
Carlisle 3-2 Tamworth: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happended.
Source: DSG
