For the second time in a week, Shots dumped higher level opposition out of the Carling Cup as they progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup for the first time since the 1980's!
This time, Shots victims were League One high flyers Carlisle United and the Cumbrian side could have no complaints about the result, after being outplayed for most of the match by Dean Holdsworth's young, fit and hungry side.
Holdsworth made two changes to the team that started against Oxford on Saturday, with Peter Vincenti coming back in, for Jermaine McGlashan and Ross Worner replacing Jamie Young in goal, following an injury to the Shots Stopper in the pre-match warm-up. Anthony Straker was able to keep his place in the Shots team, despite his sending off at Oxford, because Shots have decided to appeal against that decision.
After a relatively quiet first half, the game came to life in added time, as some neat interplay between Danny Hylton and Luke Guttridge, resulted in the latter slotting a perfectly weighted pass through to Michael Rankine down the right flank. Ranks cut in towards goal and then let fly with a thumping 20 yard strike across the visitors keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Jermaine McGlashan came on for Alex Rodman at half time and soon made his impact on the match, by winning a succession of free-kicks for Shots. The expected second half fightback from Carlisle never really materialised and in the end, this victory became a comfortable one for Shots, especially after they eventually doubled their lead in 75th minute. Straker found himself in acres of space as he burst forward down the left flank, When he reached the by-line, he drove the ball across the face of goal, but it took a wicked deflection off Carlisle skipper Danny Livesey and flew into the net off the crossbar.
So, Shots progress to Round Three - in which they will play host again - to another League One side Rochdale.
Shots: Worner 7, Herd 7, Straker 6, Jones 8, Morris 7, Rodman 6, (McGlashan 7) Guttridge 8, Collins 7, Vincenti 6, (Pulis) Hylton 7, (Mekki) Rankine 7
Attendance: 2809 (including 199 away fans)