Ian Allinson says he is immensely proud of his St Albans City players despite their 5-3 FA Cup first round defeat to Carlisle United.

A Junior Morias brace and Louie Thephanous’ late strike were not enough to secure a famous win at Clarence Park as Danny Grainger, Jason Kennedy, Jabo Ibehre (2) and Reggie Lambe struck to seal the win for United.

Nonetheless, Allinson praised his side’s display on a day he says will live long in the memory of those in attendance.

“I am immensely proud of the players today, they have been absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“If today has made some memories for a lot of people, you can’t take that away from anybody if they walk away and they remember this game for the next few years.

“It will certainly stick in my memory because we have taken the game to them and not tried to be negative.”

The Saints made the ideal start against a Carlisle side who are unbeaten in League Two this season after Morias fired them into a fourth minute lead with a spectacular long-range drive.

The Cumbrians hit back through Grainger’s penalty 15 minutes later before a contentious refereeing decision angered Allinson.

Having already been booked, Michael Raynes appeared to trip Morias but avoided a second yellow to the annoyance of the Saints boss.

“I think everyone in the ground bar one man felt he should be going. Junior’s free and he has clipped him from behind,” he said.

“I think the incident with Junior five minutes earlier, where he he didn’t book him for throwing the ball away, has saved the lad.

“It’s a massive turning point because they would be down to 10 men at 1-1.

“The referee made a decision and has to stick by it, but I think everyone in the ground knew it should have been a second yellow card.”

Morias’ display was one of the key factors in St Albans’ performance and he scored a classy second in the second half.

The 21-year-old forward, who began his career at Wycombe Wanderers, has since been linked with a move to League One Peterborough.

His performance on Sunday will have done no harm to his chances of earning such a move, but Allinson says the youngster must continue to perform for St Albans first.

“I know how much he wants to get back to being a professional footballer and we will do whatever we can as a club to help him,” Allinson said.

“If he has done that (earned a move) with his performance today and over the next few weeks, I will be over the moon for the boy because it shows he is performing for us.”