But the former Manchester City star was quick to offer his respects to Terry Brown's inspirational Aldershot Town.
He said: "You can't take anything away from Aldershot, I said to Terry and Martin Kuhl at the end of the game that they have come on so much, and not just from the game when we beat them 5-0.
“They are a very good side and have caused us problems tonight as well as on Monday. We want to enjoy this, but we still have to beat Stevenage in the final. There is no point in getting to a final if you are not going to win and that is now the most important game for us.
"It has been an incredible game and we have shown probably the most bottle than we have for the whole season. The players have shown tremendous character.
"You get the kick in the teeth with the goal late on and you have to be strong. I told the players at the beginning of extra-time not to let the chance slip away. These games don't come about and the players shouldn't come off with any regrets whatsoever.
Simpson continued, "I have never seen a penalty shoot-out like that before. I can't honestly say that I thought we were going to go on and win it, but I knew Matty Glennon would save one.
“Matty has come in for criticism, particularly after Monday's first leg. But he has shown tonight what a strong keeper he is, although we have won it tonight because we have ALL shown some real bottle.”
Brown, when speaking after this epic contest, was as gracious in defeat as he is in victory, saying: "Penalties are a lottery and we won at this stage last season from them, so there are no sour grapes. I would like to wish Paul Simpson and his side all the very best at the Britannia Stadium. Carlisle have had their setbacks in the last five years, so good luck to them!
"I have felt every single emotion tonight. We showed a tremendous amount of courage but fair play to Carlisle, they really came at us in the first half and battered us. They deserved to go in at half-time 2-0 up but I knew that if we got the ball down and played we could do better in the second half.
"We weren't intimidated by the crowd but we were intimidated by Carlisle. They got every boy in the box, were big and strong and won every tackle in the first half but there is very little to choose between the two sides and lady luck has played its part as well.
"The game had everything in it. It may not have been a real classic as a football masterpiece but in terms of excitement, it just had every emotion you could imagine.”
With thanks to the Aldershot News.