The Cumbrians certainly had enough of the game to ensure a trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in April and Richie Foran's first-half penalty miss may prove the most costly of the missed chances.

Manager Roddy Collins believes their chance has gone and said: "It was an excellent performance all round. I think we totally dominated the whole game but I think the one goal we got is not going to be enough. I think Shrewsbury are a good side and they've had a lot of success at home in the cup.

"With the dominance we had you have to put the chances away and they will be a different side down there. But the clean sheet will stand us in good stead for our home league game against Hull on Saturday."

After a slow start the game sparked to life in the 14th minute when Adam Rundle picked up a ball midway in the Shrewsbury half before forcing Ian Dunbavin into a full length save, with a shot from the edge of the box.

Four minutes later Matt Redmile conceded a harsh penalty for an innocuous challenge on Stuart Green, but Foran's poorly placed penalty was comfortably saved by Ian Dunbavin.

Craig Russell should have given Carlisle the lead, following good work by Foran down the left, but screwed his shot over the bar with only Dunbavin to beat.

Matty Glennon rescued Carlisle on 21 minutes turning a Darren Moss shot for a corner after Luke Rogers cut the ball back from the byline.

But the Cumbrians took the lead a minute later when Craig Farrell's pace took him clear down the right before cutting inside to find Adam Rundle who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Four minutes into the second half an intelligent chip from Foran almost brought a second goal but for a goal-line clearance by Alex Smith.

The Shrews' best move of the game almost brought an equaliser on 53 minutes when Ian Woan's defence-splitting pass put Stewart Talbot clear with his shot going inches wide.

Farrell should then have eased the growing tension when Murphy's cross was missed by Dunbavin but Carlisle's leading scorer sliced wide of an open goal.

Dunbavin did well to keep out a searing Green shot after the midfielder had exchanged passes with Foran on the edge of the penalty area and could only watch as Green scraped his right hand post six minutes into injury time.

The tie remains wide open with the Cumbrians assured of a good following at Gay Meadow next Tuesday night with the winners facing Bristol City in the final.