Carlisle United had dreamed of an FA Cup fairytale back at their Brunton Park home that had been so heavily damaged in December’s floods, but Everton ruined the fourth tier side’s big day with a comprehensive 3-0 win in the fourth round on Sunday.
It was an emotional occasion for Carlisle following the devastation wrought by Storm Desmond which had left much of the Cumbrian city deluged, including the football stadium, where water rose as high as the crossbars.
Following a major relief effort, with players, management and staff helping with the clean-up as the club were forced to play away from home, Carlisle had returned to League Two action at a newly-relaid Brunton Park last week.
Still, everyone’s thoughts remained on their money-spinning, glamour Cup tie against five-time winners Everton, seeking their first final success in the old competition since 1995.
Yet their hopes of achieving an upset befitting of the occasion in front of a sold-out crowd were doused within two minutes as Aaron Lennon swept down the right wing and crossed low for Arouna Kone to tap home the simplest of goals.
When the rampant Lennon cut past a static defender to fire home a second after 14 minutes, a long afternoon looked in prospect for the home side but Carlisle held out until a brilliant 65th minute Ross Barkley strike from the edge of the penalty area made it 3-0.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez told BT Sport afterwards: “We knew that you can allow these games to be very complicated. I thought we dealt with it with an incredible professionalism. The start of the game allowed us to control the rest of it.
“The fourth round of the FA Cup always brings excitement. I thought we played well and controlled the threat that Carlisle can bring.”
Everton missed out on the chance of a Wembley final in the League Cup when they lost the second leg of their semi-final to Manchester City on Wednesday, going out 4-3 on aggregate, but Lennon is eying some FA Cup glory.
“We knew we had to get back to winning ways and fast. We had to get over Wednesday’s disappointment and we are in the draw later today,” he said.
first-half Oscar hat-trick set Chelsea on their way to a thumping FA Cup fourth-round win at MK Dons.
The Blues went ahead early on when Diego Costa capitalised on Kyle McFadzean’s mistake to set up Oscar but the hosts equalised through Darren Potter’s deflected strike.
Oscar finished sublimely twice, before Eden Hazard scored his first Chelsea goal of the season from the spot after Potter fouled him.
Bertrand Traore slotted home his first Chelsea goal from Hazard’s cross to wrap up proceedings.
Victory over a side 20th in the Championship leaves Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink, winner of the FA Cup with the Blues in 2009, still undefeated in eight games since replacing Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
Their reward for Sunday’s FA Cup success was a home tie against Manchester City in the fifth round.