Greg Abbott stuck with the line-up that had taken United to joint top of League One, with Peter Murphy showing a face during the warm up as he continued on the road to recovery.

The Cumbrians started brightly, breaking up an early Rovers foray forward as Zola tried to jink his way in to the box. Bridge-Wilkinson took it off him, and the home side flooded forward in numbers.

Joe Garner had to battle for it 20 yards out, but he won his tussle, and was able to spot the run of Danny Graham, who was bursting through the middle and in to the area. His first touch took him round Coyne, but he was pushed wide, allowing Sherriff to get back and cover. The Carlisle striker got his shot away, but the keeper and defender combined and the ball rebounded away for a corner.

The delivery from that was a good one from Bridge-Wilkinson, and Coyne was fortunate to see his weak punch bobble away to safety.

Ian Goodison popped a 12 yard header over the bar from a well worked set piece in the 5th minute as the pace of the game remained high, despite the sweltering conditions.

Greenacre and Shuker linked nicely in the 13th minute as Tranmere tried to make inroads down the United left, and the tricky Rovers number 23 found himself in an excellent crossing position when he nicked the ball through Raven's legs and strode on towards the bye-line. The cross beat Westwood, but Livesey was there to put it behind for a corner.

Rovers were having their fair share of possession, without making the corners they were gaining count, and they were almost made to pay on 22 minutes when Bridge-Wilkinson floated a teasing cross in to the 18 yard area, from wide on the left. Graham tried to meet it, but it spun just beyond him and, fortunately for Coyne, also beyond the far post.

Chris Shuker was presented with a shooting chance in the 26th minute when he received a pass 20 yards from the target, and was left without a marker. He turned, set himself and tried to pick his spot in the top corner, forcing a diving parry from Westwood. Stockdale was on to the follow up, and it needed a brave block from the big stopper to prevent the goal.

Carlisle crafted a good attack of their own in the 33rd minute as they inched their way down the right hand side. Paul Arnison played an intelligent pass inside as the defence lined up in front of him, and Bridge-Wilkinson had time to take a touch and prepare the shot. Sherriff got enough of a head to it to send it behind, but the Ref ignored the touch and pointed for a goal kick.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with a break from nowhere that left United light at the back. A long ball over the top left Arnison on the floor, as he lunged in an attempt to cut it out, and Shuker was able to measure his cross back across the face of goal. Substitute Craig Curran was up in support, and he was able to bury his 6 yard volley, leaving Westwood with no chance.

Half Time: United 0 - 1 Tranmere

It was determined stuff from Carlisle at the start of the second half as they kept chipping away and trying to find a way through the stubborn Rovers defence. However, the visitors were giving very little away in terms of space, and it was a frustrating period for the Cumbrians.

Aranalde delivered an excellent cross in the 52nd minute, but it was too high for Bridge-Wilkinson who, arriving late, could only cushion his volley for Chorley to clear.

Steve Jennings scuffed a low shot at Westwood in the 58th minute as the action remained largely in the centre of the pitch, and Kev Gall whipped a teasing cross just over the head of Graham at the other end as neither team could find the momentum to take full control.

Aranalde found a way through in the 69th minute when he latched on to a poor Stockdale clearance, releasing Hackney with a first time pass. The nippy winger cut inside, and forced a diving, low save from Coyne as he went for the bottom corner.

Carlisle stayed forward in numbers, and Gall pulled wide, sending another cross towards the near post. McLaren got to that first, but it ran nicely for Hackney, who clipped a lovely ball over the back line. Graham got the slightest of touches, but Coyne was able to drop on to it comfortably and bring it under his control.

Paul Arnison drilled a 25 yarder wide in the 79th minute, when Lumsdon used the space in midfield to his advantage, and Danny Carlton was denied his first senior goal for the club in the 84th minute when Sherriff slipped and the ball bounced high in front of him. Coyne was closing down quickly, and he did enough to block the attempted lob when it came.

United kept plugging away, and Mr Ilderton denied the Cumbrians a penalty when Hackney was flattened in the area deep in to time added on, and Danny Carlton had a back post volley blocked by Coyne when the resulting corner was floated over. 

Goals

Rovers - Curran (42)

Bookings

United - Garner (53), LIvesey (59)

Teams 

United - Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Raven, Aranalde, Gall (Carlton 73), Thirlwell, Bridge-Wilkinson (Lumsdon 73), Smith (Hackney 64), Graham, Garner. Subs - Howarth, Worley.

Tranmere - Coyne, Stockdale (Kaye 85), McLaren, Sherriff, Zola (Curran 17 (Tremarco 79)), Greenacre, Jennings, Chorley, Goodison, Davies, Shuker. Subs - Jones, Achterberg.

Away fans - 459