Chelsea defender Harry Worley, in on loan from the Premiership giants for a month, was handed his first start for the club 24 hours after first setting foot in Cumbria, bringing just one change to the side from the League game against Huddersfield Town last weekend.

Paul Thirlwell shook off the knock he had picked up in that game to keep his place, but it was still no go for the medium term injured pair of Ged Dalton and Peter Murphy.

Both sides started off with a 4-4-2 formation, looking to play the football route around the park, and it was tight stuff as the midfield players chased everything down.

Joe Garner had the first shot of the day on 59 seconds when Danny Graham flicked a long, high ball forward in to his path. 25 yards from the target, he shot early, but couldn't keep it down as it dipped over the bar.

Kev Gall then found himself with a route through the centre of defence when Garner nicked an intelligent pass beyond the advancing back line. There were options, but Vincent had tracked the run and chose the optimum moment to slide in and take the ball off the United man's toes.

Carlisle produced some excellent football in the 10th minute when they played the ball to feet with crisp, neat passes. Garner picked out Smith, and his first time cross was inches away from the head of Danny Graham as he flew in to the penalty box.

The Robins were causing their problems from set pieces, and a Lindegaard corner in the 12th minute led to a Myrie-Williams volley that Worley threw himself in the way of, deflecting it away from the target.

It was a game of few openings, and Higgs cleared things up in the 19th minute after Bridge-Wilkinson and Thirlwell had linked to create a bit of space. Gall tried to make something of the ball through the middle, but the Cheltenham stopper was alert and able to gather.

Jeff Smith thumped a 27 yard free kick straight at Higgs as United also found themselves restricted to long range efforts, and it was comfortable for Cheltenham as they soaked up the attempted passes in to the front men.

The Robins had a brief sight of goal in the 31st minute when Lindegaard whipped a dangerous corner in to the mix, inviting his team mates to battle for it. Westwood was there to punch it, but that dropped nicely for Gill, who had taken up a waiting position on the edge of the area. Harry Worley was first to react for the Cumbrians, racing out to get himself in the way as the fierce drive came in.

Danny Graham was trying to stay busy up front, and he did well in the 38th minute when he rose to nod a looping cross back towards the danger area at the far post. Jeff Smith was following up, but his hurried toe poke was put behind for the corner. That was a good delivery from Bridge-Wilkinson, and it bounced in front of Danny Graham, but he couldn't guide it past Higgs who gratefully plucked it from just beneath the cross bar.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Cheltenham

Greg Abbott brought Paul Arnison on as right back at the start of the second half, moving Dave Raven back in to the heart of the defence as United looked to increase the tempo.

There was an early scare for Carlisle, as Gill stole a yard on the wing before whipping a curling free kick towards the six yard box. Connor launched himself at it, but he couldn't get any purchase on the flick and it bobbled wide.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Cumbrians, as the quality of the final ball eluded the home side, with Cheltenham giving very little away in terms of space.

Simon Hackney was brought on for Smith in the 63rd minute, and his first contribution was to swing a telling cross in to the area. Joe Garner made it his, wriggling his way past two challenges, but Mr Webster showed no interest as the appeals came for a penalty with the United forward on the floor.

Garner then popped a rising shot over the bar, as he dropped a shoulder and left his marker off balance, and things were looking more promising for United as they begun to pen Cheltenham back in their own half.

Good football brought a response from the crowd, and a succession of crosses from Hackney and Arnison eventually won a corner. Bridge-Wilkinson sent it in, and Garner shook off his marker, only to then see his 8 yard header fly inches wide.

Graham was next to go close when Thirlwell strode through the middle with the ball and found him in space. His first time shot brought an initial parry from Higgs, and the keeper was able to close it in to his chest on the second attempt as the blue shirts raced in.

Arnison had a real chance to open the scoring in the 72nd minute when the ball bounced in front of him 12 yards from goal. He opted to try to guide it in to the bottom corner, but his sidefooted effort screwed away from the post and went behind for the goal kick.

Danny Graham almost converted a deep Arnison cross on 74 minutes when he chased down a ball that looked like it was drifting behind. An outstretched foot turned it in to a decent effort on goal, but it crept over the bar with Higgs beaten.

Joe Garner thought he'd won a penalty in the 78th minute when he evaded two tackles and sent a low, bullet shot towards goal. It appeared to come off the hand of the defender, but the Referee showed no interest despite the vociferous appeals.

Arnison was having a great second half, and he sent a wicked cross in as blue shirts flooded the box in the Cumbrians next attack. Townsend knew he had to get something on it, and he was very fortunate to see his intervention lift just over the bar, when it could really have gone anywhere.

Bridge-Wilkinson was left with his hands on his hips in the 90th minute when he lofted a wonderful free kick in between the defence and the keeper, but none of the advancing players could get the vital touch, and the chance was gone.

It was relief all round in time added on when Danny Livesey produced a fantastic finish, from just inside the box, as he waited for the ball to drop. With absolutely no hesitation at all he crashed his shot in to the top corner, leaving Higgs with no chance, and bringing Brunton Park to its feet.

Cheltenham tried to claw themselves back in to it, but the defenders wouldn't buckle and it was a case of seeing time out as the Cumbrians added three more points to their tally.

Bookings

United - Worley (27), Raven (42), Garner (77)

Cheltenham - Spencer (77), Ridley (89)

Goals

United - Livesey (90)

Teams

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Worley (Arnison 46), Aranalde, Gall, Bridge-Wilkinson, Thirlwell, Smith (Hackney 63), Garner, Graham. Subs - Howarth, Lumsdon, Carlton.

Cheltenham - Higgs, Gill, Ridley, Duff, Townsend, Finnigan, Connor, Bird, Lindegaard (Gillespie 90), Vincent (Spencer 72), Myrie-Williams (Connolly 79). Subs - Brown, Gallinagh.

Away fans - 141