18-year-old striker Joe Garner was recalled to the United starting line up in place of the injured Chris Lumsdon with Neil McDonald otherwise opting for the same starting eleven that had won a point down at Brentford at the weekend.

Nottingham Forest boasted a Cumbrian strike force pairing of Scott Dobie and Grant Holt as they came to build on the Yeovil result that marked their only victory in their last four outings.

Forest had the first attempt of the evening when they raced quickly forward after gaining possession in midfield. Grant Holt killed it 20 yards out, spotting Perch making an intelligent run. The midfielder had time, but he placed a weak shot well wide with his right foot.

The Cumbrians had a good moment of their own in the 5th minute when a Gall cross zipped across the 18 yard box. Hawley challenged for it, and a weak half clearance by Breckin popped up invitingly for Murray, 16 yards out. He headed goalwards, where Garner got a neat flick that diverted it towards the top corner. Smith had to react quickly, tipping it over the bar.

A slide rule pass from Lester in the 11th minute put Dobie one on one with Westwood but his first touch, despite getting him beyond the keeper, took him too far and behind for a goal kick.

A quiet spell came to an end on 21 minutes when a poor Forest corner somehow found a way through to Bennett. He swung his leg at it, forcing a block from both Murphy and Livesey.

Kev Gall then went for a long range effort when he was sent clear by good work in midfield from Garner, but he screwed the shot poorly, never testing Smith in the Forest goal.

Midfields were on top, cancelling each other out, until Perch timed his 35th minute run to coincide with a Lester break. The Forest man had his first minute miss still fresh in his mind and opted to cross, and the chance was snuffed out by Livesey.

McGugan dug out a cross from nothing on 38 minutes and Perch rose like a salmon, unlucky to see his header drop just the wrong side of the upright.

Joe Garner was having a decent showing up front and he was on the end of another Aranalde throw that had Forest stretched. United won a corner in the next attack, and the same pair combined as the young forward ran clear, only to head over the bar.

Paul Thirlwell finally unlocked the stubborn Red defence in time added on for the first half with a neat pass over the top that found Karl Hawley completely unmarked, 7 yards from goal, and he made no mistake as he nodded his eleventh goal of the season beyond Smith and in to the bottom corner of the net.

Half Time: United 1 - 0 Forest

Forest were almost back on level terms within 4 minutes of the restart when a Bennett throw found its way through to Lester, 9 yards out. He got his shin to it, angling it towards the top corner, but couldn't find the direction needed as it flew beyond the goal.

Garner looped a weak header goalwards in the 53rd minute after Livesey had flicked on a long throw, and there was even a half shout for hand ball as it came back off Breckin's arm, prior to the Carlisle striker rising for the chance.

Carlisle enjoyed the better of the play in the opening exchanges as the forwards continued to press every ball, but a Clingan free kick in the 62nd minute had Westwood under pressure as he had to take the eventual delivery off the head of the advancing Scott Dobie.

Jeff Smith was gifted a chance in the 62nd minute when Morgan waited for a high ball to drop down for him. The Carlisle left winger was quickly on to it but couldn't control the header, sending it high over the bar.

Having shown very little Grant Holt missed nicking an equaliser by a matter of inches as he got to a near post cross first, volleying low, on 66 minutes. Westwood was beaten, but so was the post as Blue shirts converged to snuff it out.

Two very evenly matched sides continued to spar, with Calderwood throwing on a double substitution with Agogo and Tyson replacing Lester and Dobie moments after Peter Murphy had sent a Jeff Smith corner beyond the far post.

A superb break in the 85th minute typified the hard working Cumbrian attitude of the night when Garner won the challenge then knocked it onwards to Murray. He still had plenty to do, but slid in and managed to scoop it across, getting a diving one handed save out of Smith in the Forest goal.

Forest flung high balls forward throughout the 4 minutes of time added on but it was to no avail as United deservedly saw the game out to a 1-0 victory.

Goals

United - Hawley (45)

Bookings

Forest - Bennett (59), Grant Holt (86), Curtis (88)

Teams 

United - Westwood, Raven, Murphy, Livesey, Aranalde, Thirlwell, Murray (McDermott 88), Smith, Gall, Hawley, Garner (Holmes 90). Subs - Williams, Gray, Joyce.

Forest - Smith, Morgan, Breckin, Dobie (Agogo 76), Grant Holt, Lester (Tyson 76), Clingan, Perch, Curtis, Bennett, McGugan. Subs - Gary Holt, Redmond, Bencherif.

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