Simek spot on for Cumbrians

Frank Simek hit the winner as Carlisle fought back to knock out Port Vale 4-3 on penalties in Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Carlisle, last season's beaten finalists, appeared to be heading out of the competition at the second-round stage as they trailed 2-0 with 14 minutes left but they hit back to draw 2-2 in normal time to keep alive their hopes of another date at Wembley. Vale took the lead in fortuitous circumstances three minutes before half-time. There appeared to be little danger from Louis Dodds' ball in from the right until Oliver Norwood, in trying to clear, succeeded only in sending a header arrowing into the bottom corner. With Carlisle struggling to string passes together Vale doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Marc Richards met Rob Taylor's cross six yards out and his downward header carried sufficient pace to slip from Adam Collin's grasp and bounce behind the keeper and over the line. Carlisle's first goal in four home games finally came in the 76th minute when James Chester met James Berrett's free-kick from the left to thump a header past Chris Martin from 10 yards. Five minutes later the home side were level when Jason Price, one of three second-half substitutes, got on the end of Kevan Hurst's cross from the right and steered a first-time shot past Martin from close range. Collin then saved from Tommy Fraser and Dodds in the shoot-out, leaving Simek to fire home the decisive spot kick and seal a 4-3 victory.