United were under the Brunton Park floodlights for their first round meeting with Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night.
And it was a game that had everything, with both sides giving their all in a bid to take the step into the second round.
It started well for the hosts when a Watt free kick was sent behind for a corner with just three minutes on the clock. The same man delivered the set piece and Sam Fishburn glanced a neat header past Southerington and into the bottom corner.
Oldham dusted themselves off as they looked to strike back quickly but Simms had an effort charged down as he turned in the area.
The dangerous Harry Vaughan wriggled his way into space moments later but Kilsby was alert and he stepped across to make a block as the shot came in.
United enjoyed most of the early possession, and Watt took charge of a 25-yard free kick after Fishburn had been dragged back. He beat the wall but it sailed over the bar.
It ebbed and flowed as both teams looked to stamp their authority but it was Carlisle who thought they'd be celebrating again when Fishburn smacked a powerful header against the bar. The ball was sent back into the mix from the half clearance and Bollado was bundled to the floor as he tried to finish it off. The whistle went and Fishburn put himself on penalty duties. Keeper Luke Southerington stayed calm and he guessed the right way to make an excellent save.
Visiting tails were suddenly up and Breeze had to keep an eye on a drive from Modi as it came through legs low and fierce.
Fishburn was close again when he got on the end of a cross from Watt, but there was a man on the line who stood his ground as he hooked it clear.
The Latics pushed men forward in time added on for the half and Atkinson was wayward as he thrashed a volley high.
But the equaliser came when a short corner routine brought a shot from distance. It pinged around as it struck Ellis and Llyton Chapman couldn't believe his luck as he found himself with the time he needed to prod it over the line.
Carlisle attacked first in the second period and a thunderbolt from Bollado was bravely blocked, with Watt next to test the target with a rasper that wasn't too far away.
Midfielder Kai Nugent then sliced wide, but the pressure was eventually made to tell when Watt was chopped to the floor as he approached the box. He placed the ball and left Southerington with no chance as he ripped a stunning free kick into the top corner.
The lead lasted just three minutes when James Simms showed a cool head before picking his spot after he'd been set free following some good football.
Another shift of balance saw Breeze called into action twice in quick succession. A low parry down to his left prevented a snapshot from finding the target, and a firm punch dealt with a dipping header.
Garvey was disappointed when he worked himself some space only to see his stinger bounce off Kilner before spinning to safety.
Stopper Gabriel Breeze was at his best when he went full length to tip a bullet of a volley onto the post. United broke and a foul on Hardy invited Watt to deliver once again. Jack Ellis said thank you very much as he nodded in from close range from the wicked inswinger.
United looked to be in control and Bollado shaved the outside of the upright in what was another good passage of home play. The striker was furstrated once more when a poke from a corner was pushed past the nets by Southerington.
Seven minutes into time added on for the 90 and the Oldham bench waved Luke Southerington forward as Harry Vaughan prepared himself to take a 25-yard free kick. It was perfectly weighted and the keeper grabbed himself some headlines with a crunching header that took the game into extra time.
Tired legs and minds meant that gaps were bound to appear, but Breeze stayed bright as Moore cut inside from the wing. The sidewinder was heading for the bottom corner until the keeper leaped to push it over the bar.
But he could do nothing when Aaron Atkinson surged forward to give the Latics the lead for the first time on the night with a shot on the run that seared into the top corner.
Carlisle responded, and DJ Taylor showed a clean pair of heels as he floated down the left flank before popping a pass into the mix. Sam Fishburn had followed the move and he notched his second with a determined finish.
Half chances came and went at both ends through the second period of extra time and the prospect of penalties became very real as the clock ticked down.
A miss from Fishburn in the shoot-out and five clinical finishes from Oldham meant it was heartbreak for the home side as Oldham celebrated at the end of what had been a superb advert for youth football.
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Goals
Carlisle United - Fishburn (3, 105), Watt (59), Ellis (77)
Oldham Athletic - Chapman (45+1), Simms (62), Southerington (90+7), Atkinson (99)
Penalties:
Simms - scored 0-1
Fishburn - saved 0-1
Moore - scored 0-2
Hardy - scored 1-2
Atkinson - scored 1-3
Kilsby - scored 2-3
Kilner - scored 2-4
Carr - scored 3-4
Modi - scored 3-5
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Bookings
Carlisle United - Carr (38), Watt (45)
Oldham Athletic - Turner (31), Simms (101)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Breeze, Potts (Swinburn 106), Carr, Ellis (c), Kilsby, Watt, Nugent (Hardy 70), Garvey (Taylor 90), Bell, Bollado (Gordon 120), Fishburn. Subs - Simons, Fitzpatrick.
Oldham Athletic - Southerington, Turner (Spencer 94), Kilner, Hughes (c) (Chapman 29), Modi, Edwards (Moore 82), Simms, Vaughan, Badby (Okeke 64), Atkinson, Cookson. Subs - Danielewicz, Davidson, Forshaw.
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Referee - Graeme Hopper
Assistant - Scott Henry
Assistant - Keenan Wright
Fourth Official - Robert Denton
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Attendance - 327