Carlisle Utd 1 Forest Green Rovers 0: Aaron Hayden headed Carlisle United into the third round of the FA Cup in Chris Beech's first home game in charge.

His 41st-minute goal secured a trip to Cardiff for the Cumbrians.

It was Beech's first victory at the helm and ex-Wolves man Hayden's first goal for the club.

But it came in front of a tiny crowd of 1,736 - the third-lowest FA Cup crowd at Brunton Park.

The decisive moment came when Hayden - who started at right-back - peeled to the back post to nod a Nathan Thomas free-kick past keeper Adam Smith for his first Blues goal.

That broke the deadlock on a windswept night after a short spell of Blues pressure which had seen Ryan Loft test Smith, Thomas cross just out of Hallam Hope's reach, Loft have a goal disallowed for offside and Thomas prod wide from a great position.

That came after the visitors had enjoyed the better of play in the opening half-hour, with Aaron Collins and Dayle Grubb having early shots and Junior Mondal and Kyle Taylor going closer midway through the half, left-back Gethin Jones then making a crucial clearance.

Loft was booked for a dangerous high challenge on Dom Bernard with Farrend Rawson also seeing yellow for pulling back Stefan Scougall.

After the break Thomas robbed keeper Smith but could not set up Hallam Hope.

Collins was denied at the other end while sub Harry McKirdy failed to take two opportunities.

Last-ditch defending denied Collins again before the forward hit the bar 10 minutes from time.

Byron Webster limped off late on but Carlisle, overall, defended solidly, with Jarrad Branthwaite more at home at centre-half.

They secured victory and a welcome clean sheet and will go to the Cardiff City Stadium in early January.

United: Collin, G Jones, Branthwaite, Webster (Knight-Percival 87) Hayden, Carroll, M Jones, Scougall (McKirdy 61), N Thomas, Hope (Elliott 90), Loft. Not used: Gray, Olomola, Sagaf, Sorensen.

Forest Green: Smith, Shephard, Bernard (Godwin-Malife 83), Rawson, Kitching, Taylor (Stevens 61), Adams, Winchester, Mondal, Grubb (M Mills 46), Collins. Not used: L Thomas, Morton, Dawson, McGinley.

Ref: Andy Haines.

Crowd: 1,736 (88 Forest Green fans)