There was a certain similarity in Shaun Miller's latest equaliser against Exeter to his last: Nicky Adams bustling in from the left, and the striker locating space in the box to head home.

In this way Miller levelled in last November's 3-2 win, and on Sunday he swept towards the near post, in front of his man, to dispatch United's dramatic third goal.

Both in movement and execution it was once again the work of a seasoned finisher. It surprises, then, to reflect that it was Miller's first goal of 2017.

His eighth of the season overall, it ended a wait since Boxing Day (against Crewe) for a Miller goal, and it triggered an eruption of noise in Brunton Park during this dramatic play-off semi-final, which will be settled in Devon tomorrow.

One hopes, too, it heralds a return to predatory work in the nick of time from the 29-year-old, whose season has at times threatened to catch fire but not fully managed it, for different reasons.

The most recent setback was a red card for a bad challenge against Crewe at Brunton Park - his second dismissal of the season, bringing a four-match ban.

That left Miller chewing his frustration during some of the key games of Carlisle's run-in. Yet he is now back in the thick of things and Sunday's goal, after coming off the bench, showed a useful instinct that could benefit United again in the second leg.

Coming moments after John O'Sullivan's cross had given the Blues an unlikely lifeline, Miller said his strike felt "incredible", adding: "There's no better feeling than scoring a goal. The magnitude of the game amplified that, so it was an unbelievable feeling."

Miller came on for centre-half Michael Raynes as Keith Curle tried to reverse Exeter's 3-1 lead. O'Sullivan had by then arrived in place of Jamie Devitt. A few minutes later United's manager also threw George Waring's height into Carlisle's salvage mission.

Their promotion hopes were at the mercy of events over the remaining half-hour, when Exeter appeared to spot blood in the water. Did Miller and his fellow replacements feel the pressure of the season on their shoulders as they removed their bibs?

"Not necessarily pressure - if it is pressure, it's a good pressure," he said. "You go on to try and make an impact, and that's all you can do. Thankfully me and John did that. He scooped one in from the touchline but it got us right back in the game."

It was impossible not to smile at the memory of O'Sullivan's goal: a cross aimed from wide on the right which bent back over keeper Bobby Olejnik and found the top corner.

"I was looking for the pass, to be honest," Miller said. "But it scooped over my head and I saw it drifting in. You need those bits of luck sometimes. It certainly got the crowd firing, and everyone up. Thankfully we got the equaliser as well."

Miller had already gone close to scoring, breaking clear on goal but failing to evade the onrushing Olejnik. His second, chance, though, was served up by the assists king Adams and put away clinically.

"Everyone knows Nicky's been doing that all season," Miller said. "I always look to try and get across the front man. It was a great ball and fortunately I was able to get on the end of it and delighted to see it go in.

"It was a massive goal in the scheme of things, getting us back in the game. I was disappointed with the first chance but delighted to make up for it. For the scale of the evening, it's got to be one of the most important I've scored."

Miller has been left with a substitute's role recently, partly as a result of his sending-off on March 25 and then the ravenous form of Jabo Ibehre. Jamie Proctor has also been leading the line, with Miller, Waring and Ben Tomlinson considered as Curle's other main forward options.

The dismissal against his former club is something Miller clearly regrets. "The red card set me back, but that's my fault," he said. "A four-game ban, with it being a second red [of the season], was gutting, really.

"But you've just got to bide your time and work your way back in, and when you get the chance try and make an impact. That's what I've tried to do."

Although Sunday's encounter contained enough incident to last several weeks, another epic awaits tomorrow. It is not the Carlisle way to do things quietly, so our nerves are certain to be tested once more.

Despite it being at the not exactly convenient time of 7.45pm on a Thursday night some 347 miles away in Devon, United will be well supported on their travels and Miller, who described Sunday's atmosphere as a major factor, says Curle's players will do all they can to make it a special night.

"There's nothing better than coming out and seeing all those fans, and towards the end hearing those huge roars," he said of Sunday's draw. "They are great games to play in and be part of, and I'm sure it will be exactly the same on Thursday.

"We got out of jail a bit, but we'll go down there full of confidence knowing we've beaten them [Exeter] twice. We've got no fears. We know we can score goals - that's nine we've scored against them. And there's just a great fighting spirit amongst the lads. We know we can beat any team and it's just that belief to keep going.

"It's three times we've played them this season and three times we've gone behind. We're always giving ourselves an uphill battle. If we can cut that out, you'd like to think it would be a lot easier. But it never works like that. They played well, it was very end-to-end throughout the game, very open, and it's 3-3, level, going into a game of football to get to Wembley."

Is a straightforward outcome remotely possible tomorrow? "Another 3-2 will do!" Miller said. "Although I'm not sure how many hearts can take that. But whatever it takes, we'll do it."