Carlisle get points on board with U’s victory

UNITED picked up their first league points of the season with a professional and workmanlike performance which eventually did the trick as they outplayed their opponents in the first half and outthought them in the second.

Carlisle came out of the blocks on fire and should have taken an early lead when Bennett tussled with Legge for a high ball over the top. He shrugged off his marker but was disappointed as he bent a curling shot wide of the target.

The big striker recovered quickly from his miss and he had Forde at full length as he spun and rifled low for the bottom corner. The keeper parried it and Hope was flagged offside just as he set himself to sweep the loose pieces away.

It was good stuff from the visitors and they deservedly took the lead when Lambe and Joyce exchanged passes on the edge of the box. A gap opened up for the winger and he took his time as he guided a drilled effort into the back of the net.

The Cumbrians looked comfortable but were pegged back when Bonham carelessly spilled a high delivery from

Carroll. The lively Medy Elito was on to it like a flash and he tumbled to the floor as he came under pressure from Liddle. The referee pointed immediately to the spot and Elito dusted himself off to smash the spot-kick home.

Things tightened up in the midfield areas but Carlisle went close when a long kick from Bonham caused all kinds of problems. A flick from Ben- nett sent Hope through, but his drilled toe poke took a deflection and Forde re-adjusted to make a comfortable save.

Good football from the hosts left Ikpeazu in space and he fed the ball back for Ibehre to strike. The former Blue unleashed a first-time shot which was never going to trouble the target.

The big striker was a threat again moments later when a low cross was picked up by Berry. His attempt at a thunderbolt spooned high into the sky and the follow-up header from Ibehre had to be cleared off the line by Liddle.

Carlisle stepped up the pace before the break and Forde produced a wonder save when a 20-yard volley from Parkes struck Bennett in the midriff. It was heading into the net until the keeper threw himself at it to palm it away. But the hardworking stopper was undone from the corner despite tipping an initial header from Tom Miller on to the bar. Defender Leon Davies reacted quickly to stop Hope from putting the rebound away but Tom Parkes bagged his first goal for the club with a thumping and unstoppable volley.

The second half took a while to get going and it was a stunning Danny Grainger free-kick which sparked things off when he put his boot through a gentle roll from Adams. Forde struggled to deal with it as it bent and dipped on to his punch.

Clear-cut chances became few and far between, and Carlisle held their defensive shape as they looked after their slender lead.

Ibehre went close late in the day when he got on the end of a wicked cross from Davies. His header had goal written all over it until Bonham got the faintest of touches to take it on to the bar.

The U’s sent men forward as they tried to rescue a point but Carlisle took their hard-earned points home.