Jeff Smith's one match suspension brought Chris Lumsdon back in to the starting line up, with the team otherwise unchanged from the successful trip to Cheltenham the previous Saturday.

Oldham started brightly, looking comfortable on the ball, and were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after Clarke was brought down. Eardley tried his luck, but could only find Westwood with his powerful effort.

Still getting forward, Rocastle then found himself with a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box but, again, it was comfortably held by Westwood. Warne then showed some flair to weave past Livesey before going one on one with the Carlisle keeper. Aiming to pick his spot, he snatched at it and slotted it wide of the upright.

Having soaked up the early pressure the home side got in to it more, enjoying some decent possession. However, disaster struck on 13 minutes when Warne was brought down. Wellens delivered the free kick, finding Liddell in a nice position. His flick dropped right on the button for Taylor to drill in to the roof of the net, giving his side the lead.

The Cumbrians were stung and the pace of Johann Smith was utilised as he was given licence to get down the wing. A string of free kicks won by the tricky wide man resulted in a great ball in from Aranalde that rattled around the box before coming back out to the left back. He put his foot through it. going for glory, but it whistled wide of the target as it arrowed through the bodies.

Smith went on another winding run shortly after, beating his marker and making it to the line. With both Gall and Garner available he decided to shoot, succeeding only in finding the side netting.

Moving the ball around Carlisle created another chance when Gall was released. Finding a yard of space he crashed a stinging cross towards the danger area, and was disappointed to see it deflect away to safety off the angle of post and bar.

An equaliser looked ever more likely, despite the fact that Carlisle couldn't find the decisive pass, and Joe Garner was next to go past his man. He then found Lumsdon, who crossed early, and Aranalde was first to the half clearance, thumping an instinctive volley goalwards. Pogliacomi was well placed to gather as the ball flew off the left back's boot.

Garner rose highest to head an Aranalde free kick at the Latics keeper from 8 yards out, and Paul Thirlwell put a 20 yarder well wide as he went for power in a period of play that had United well on top.

Eardley did have a shot from distance that was catching practice for Westwood, but it was Joe Garner who would have the final punt of the half when he spun on an Aranalde pass, lost his balance and scooped the bobbling ball high over the bar as he fell to the ground.

Half time: United 0 - 1 Oldham

Johann Smith raced away following a neat pass from Aranalde and beat the onrushing Latics keeper to it, taking it past him. With the crowd rising expectantly, he found his route to an open goal blocked by the covering defenders and had to settle for a corner.

Eardley smashed a 25 yarder at Westwood when Liddell sent another teasing free kick over, in a rare attacking moment for Oldham, forcing the United stopper to parry before smothering it on the floor. Taylor then did the same when he went on a strong run, but his forceful shot was always an easy save to make.

Substitute Derek Holmes, who replaced a limping Danny Graham, was in to the action quickly when he fired an 18 yarder inches wide of the target. The big striker was the man on the spot again when Pogliacomi had to stop the ball at his near post, from a downwards header off an Aranalde free kick.

The home side kept pushing on, but the Latics seemed happy to soak up the pressure as they tried to hold on to what they had.

Carlisle finally got their goal in the 87th minute when Gall was hacked down, out wide on the left. Aranalde sent it over, and Derek Holmes was there to power his header in to the bottom corner, despite the dive from the Oldham stopper.

Warner had the ball nicked off his toes at one end, whilst Aranalde fizzed a 25 yarder wide at the other, but it ended all square after some dogged and determined work from both sides. 

Goals:

Oldham - Taylor (13)

Carlisle - Holmes (87)

Bookings:

Carlisle - Aranalde (16)

Oldham - Taylor (14), Liddell (28), Wellens (66), Warne (72)

Teams:

United - Westwood, Raven, Murphy, Livesey, Aranalde, Gall, Thirlwell, Lumsdon, Johann Smith (Joyce 72), Graham (Holmes 54), Garner. Subs - Williams,Gray, Arnison.

Oldham - Pogliacomi, Eardley, Charlton, Haining, Gregan, Taylor, Liddell, Rocastle (McDonald, 85), Wellens, Clarke, Warne. Subs - Smalley, Lomax, Pearson, Blayney.

Attendance - 7951

Away fans - 1068