A former Carlisle United player is the toast of Sutton United after helping the League Two underdogs reach the Papa John's Trophy final.

Dean Bouzanis was the penalty shoot-out hero as Matt Gray's side beat Wigan in the semi-final.

The Australian keeper saved Tendayi Darikwa's effort to seal a 7-6 shoot-out win at the DW Stadium.

He also took one of Sutton's penalties, converting their seventh kick as they got the better of Leam Richardson's hosts.

The shoot-out followed a 1-1 draw in normal time when Will Randall's Sutton opener  had been cancelled out by James McClean.

The victory over the League One side sees Sutton reach the Wembley final of the controversial Trophy in their first season as an EFL club.

Another former United man, striker Richie Bennett, was also on target for Sutton with their fifth spot-kick.

Bouzanis was on United's books under Graham Kavanagh in the 2013/14 but the former Liverpool and Oldham man failed to make a single appearance.

Manager Gray said of Bouzanis last night: "He's been superb. He stood up there and pushed it past the post to see us through to Wembley He'll be in Sutton's history forever more."

Sutton, who are fourth in League Two, will now face either Hartlepool United or Rotherham United in the final with those sides meeting in the north east tonight.

There are ex-Carlisle connections in both of those sides too, with Pools including veteran defender Gary Liddle, who on Saturday made his 700th first-team appearance.

Rotherham's squad includes former United loan frontman Joshua Kayode.

At Hartlepool, meanwhile, ex-Blues midfielder Antony Sweeney - who is currently first-team coach with the Monkey Hangers - has signed a new long-term contract.