Furious Grayson claims Carlisle fans assaulted Leeds United players

The United manager was left incensed as to how hundreds of Carlisle United fans had been allowed to pour on to the field following Shane Lowry's decisive missed penalty in a shoot-out.

Leeds had won 3-2 on the night to leave the Northern Area final tied at 4-4 on aggregate only to lose 6-5 on penalties.

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On-loan defender Lowry was the first to be assaulted, with a burly fan rushing up to the Leeds man and trying to knock him to the ground just seconds after his spot-kick had been saved by Adam Collin.

Grayson claims two more United players _one of them it has now emerged was Robert Snodgrass - were then punched when trying to leave the field despite the attendance of stewards and police.

The Leeds manager was so angry he demanded a meeting with the police chief in charge at Brunton Park. He has also vowed to take the matter further after revealing goalkeeper Casper Ankergren had been showered with missiles during the shoot-out.

Grayson said: "Three of my players have been punched and the police did nothing about it. The stewards also did nothing about it but it is a serious situation to me.

"I am disappointed with how it panned out. You can't get away from the exuberance of the Carlisle fans about getting to the final (at Wembley). But I am disappointed with the policing and stewarding.

"One bloke came on the pitch and it took two minutes before anyone did anything about him.

"There has to be something done to get my players off safely. Three of them got done from behind.

"I will be taking it further with the people at a higher level. I will make my feelings well and truly known.

"The players rightly want some safety when they are in a situation like that."

In the aftermath of last night's dramatic finale, claims also emerged of a blue laser being shone in the eyes of the Leeds players as they prepared to take their penalties at the Warwick Road End.

Asked if he had seen the laser, Grayson added: "I didn't see anything about a blue laser but my goalkeeper said there were a lot of things being thrown at him during the penalties."

Carlisle will go on to face Southampton in the March 28 final leaving Leeds to concentrate on winning promotion from League One.

Grayson said: "I give Carlisle credit, they are a good team and, hopefully, they will go on and win the trophy. It is always nicer to be able to say you have been knocked out by the team that won it.

"I am just unhappy with what happened afterwards. Exuberance I can put up with because Carlisle have just reached a final. I have no problem with that.

"What I do have a problem is people charging on and the police just staying in the tunnel. They did nothing to protect my players."

Referee Andy Hall seems certain to include the unsavoury incidents in his match report to the Football Association, meaning action may yet be taken against Carlisle for failing to control their supporters.

Grayson said: "The referee is aware of what happened, both the things thrown at Casper and the running on the pitch."

Leeds intend to lodge a formal complaint to the Football League after the incident.

Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "It is our current intention to make a formal complaint to the football authorities about the apparent lack of security arrangements in relation to the safety of our players at Carlisle.

"It is also our intention to supplement the evidence we already have by having further conversations with both Carlisle United Football Club and the Cumbria Police Force.

"We'd like to offer our congratulations to Carlisle United on reaching the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and we will turn our attentions on the field to our remaining 18 league games and our quest for promotion."