Adam Rundle's first-leg strike proved to be enough as Carlisle put the nightmare of Saturday's five-goal mauling from Hull aside to keep a clean sheet in a game full of drama.

Keeper Matty Glennon’s Man of the Match performance ensured the Cumbrians reached their third Cup Final in this competition.

Manager Roddy Collins was deeply hurt by the performance of his players on Saturday. "It feels good and annoying at the same time," he said. "You're through to the final and that's great but why couldn't we play like that on Saturday?

"Players who pick games to suit themselves is just not good enough. But I won't take the gloss off the situation. It's great for the city, it's great for John Courtenay and the fans but we've a game on Saturday at Boston which is more important to me."

On a heavy pitch, both sides started cautiously and it was 25 minutes before the first chance fell to Ian Woan. Luke Rogers' clever footwork worked an opening on the right and his cross was only partially cleared by Darren Kelly to Woan on the edge of the box, but the former Nottingham Forest star blasted over from a good position.

Rogers again did well down the right, Mark Birch clearing the cross with Woan firing the loose ball over.

Glennon then could only parry away a Darren Moss cross with Mark Summerbell making a timely clearance for a corner.

Carlisle had rarely threatened going forward but Stuart Green fired wide following good work from Jon McCarthy.

Craig Farrell was then unlucky to see a goalbound effort blocked for a corner by Matt Redmile.

On 54 minutes, Glennon made the first of a crucial series of saves in a frantic 15-minute spell. Rogers played a neat ball into Lowe but his shot went straight at Glennnon.

Aiston then played in Rogers, only for Glennon to block at the striker's feet.

Still the Shrews poured forward, Talbot feeding Jagielka but Glennon again more than equal to his shot.

Aiston was next to create a chance, heading Rogers' cross back across goal with Birch clearing just ahead of the in-rushing Woan, closely followed by a Rogers shot flashing wide of the post and Aiston curling a shot over.

But Stuart Green relieved a bit of the pressure running from his own half to beat four players in a jinking run before a last ditch tackle from Moss spoiled a promising opportunity.

In the fifth minute of injury time Woan had Carlisle's hearts in their mouths with a flashing shot which clipped the post.