HAD Redditch been victorious against the second best non-league football side in the country in the FA Trophy on Saturday they would have got the chance to play the best - Barnet - at home.

But some things aren't to be and the fourth round draw was definitely not top of the agenda for United boss Rod Brown who took defeat on the chin.

He said: "You've got to be magnanimous in defeat - the best team won on the day.

"We could have played better but I still think we've done well.

"As soon as I saw the pitch I knew it was going to be a problem for us fitness-wise - on a good pitch I think we could have kept the ball a lot better.

"As soon as we gave the ball away we were always struggling to retain the ball and we were really on our knees at half time - we were tired but credit to the boys they kept going.

"When Carlisle equalised we really needed a little bit more from our strikers and a bit more composure on the ball and after going behind it really was a struggle."

Brown admitted Richard Anstiss was picked over the inform Dean Coleman out of loyalty.

"Richard has been our keeper for two and a half great seasons and this was a big game so I went with loyalty.

"Dean was very disappointed but it may have been justice at the end of the day because he came on and saved a great penalty."

Brown also revealed that he has retained the 19-year-old Walsall keeper after Anstiss was stretchered off seconds into the second half against Carlisle.

Brown said: "It was a strange one for Richard because he didn't have a great game and I've never known Richard to need a stretcher before and he was in high spirits after the game."

And Brown is looking forward to a rematch against the Cumbrians as the teams look set to lock horns again next year.

He added: "Carlisle were absolutely embarrassed with the numbers at the game in fact they were that embarrassed that they've promised us a pre-season friendly next year so hopefully we can make some money back from that."