STOKE CITY'S Under-18 side dramatically progressed through to the FA Youth Cup 4th round last night after overcoming Carlisle United in an entertaining affair.

Matthew Cohen's last gasp strike was enough to ensure progression in the competition for Adrian Pennock's side, with the tie seemingly set to go into extra time.

Both sides had chances throughout the clash with Louis Moult for the Potters and Ryan Bowman for the hosts missing glorious opportunities. However, just as the game looked set to end as a stalemate, Cohen popped up to head the ball home from close range to deservedly send the Potters through.

The game got underway at a drizzly Brunton Park and Moult was first to unsettle the hosts as he saw an effort cannon back off the crossbar after just ten minutes, while City's hot-shot again went close moments later as he curled an effort agonisingly wide of the post.

It was Carlisle who spurned a great opportunity to take the lead midway through the first half when Matthew Woods failed to capitalise on an uncharacteristic mistake by keeper Dave Parton. The City stopper fumbled the ball into the path of the striker, but with the goal at his mercy he somehow dragged his effort off target, much to Parton's relief.

The impressive Danny Stockhall then twice went close for the visitors as the half wore on, but firstly his close range header drifted just wide, before a stinging long range effort a minute or two later hit the wrong side of the netting.

With the game looking set to enter the interval all square, Moult should have fired the Potters into the lead on the stroke of half time after finding himself through on goal, however, his effort from 10-yars was brilliantly saved by the outstretched Carlisle stopper.

Pennock shuffled things around during the break as he introduced Jack Harrison for Adam Vickers. The switch almost paid off immediately as his acute ball found Moult inside the penalty area, but with the striker seemingly set to make it 1-0, he was denied by a great last ditch challenge by Geary, with Ryan Connor forcing Gillespie into making a smart save from the rebound.

Carlisle starlet Bowman, who has 19 goals to his name this season, was then handed a glorious opportunity to fire the hosts ahead, but Parton was equal to his effort and saved superbly to keep the scores level.

An entertaining, typical cup affair continued as both sides had chances, with Moult firing inches over the bar from 18-yards, after Bowman had curled a 30-yard free-kick inches wide of the right hand post.

City pressed forward late on and looked the more likely to seal a spot in the next round. However, when both Tom Urwin and Moult missed chances to seal the tie late on it looked certain to go to extra time.

Then, with virtually the last attack of the game Cohen scrambled the ball over the line after the hosts had failed to clear their lines following Urwin's inswinging corner.