Greg Abbott went for a very attack minded starting line up at the Fitness First Stadium as his side came up against a Cherries team ravaged by injury.

Joe Anyinsah and Simon Hackney started on the flanks, with Kev Gall and Jeff Smith moving to the substitutes bench.

Kevin Bond had only 13 recognised first team players to pick from, resorting to placing 43-year-old Assistant Rob Newman on the bench as emergency cover.

The Cherries attacked first with an incisive break down the right that took them behind the United back line. Cooper spotted the run of Gradel, and his precise pass allowed the nippy right winger to take it to the bye line. He opted for an early, low cross, and Livesey was there to volley it behind for the corner. Westwood rose highest for that delivery and gathered it at the second attempt, as he spilled the first ball in, under pressure from the red shirts.

Cooper was displaying a decent range of passes in the opening exchanges and he almost released Kuffour with a looping ball forward that found the dangerous striker on the penalty spot. He took it down well, but Livesey was in attendance and snuffed out the danger with a timely intervention.

The Cumbrians found their attacking stride in the 7th minute when Anyinsah raced away down the right wing. Cutting inside he fed it across the face of the 18 yard box, where Simon Hackney took over. Looking up, he spotted the keeper off his line, but the shot was easy for Begovic as it whipped in to his midriff.

Anyinsah was providing the early outlet for United, and his 10th minute run took him beyond his marker once more. Another early cross caught the Cherries light at the back, and the half clearance fell nicely for Hackney. His initial effort was blocked, but a defensive mix up gave him a second bite, and it took an excellent, reflex save from Begovic to keep the score at nil-nil.

United exploited the Bournemouth left flank once more in the 11th minute when Anyinsah skipped past three challenges before nicking a deft pass in to the path of the advancing Simon Hackney. With just the keeper to beat he screwed his left foot shot towards the far post, but couldn't find the target. Darren Anderton picked up the loose ball from the clearance, and it opened up for him as he approached the Carlisle box. He hit his left footed 22 yarder sweetly, but Westwood was able to watch it wide as it curled behind for a goal kick.

Max Gradel was a potential handful, and his 15th minute run and cross eventually dropped in to the path of Hollands at the far post. He stepped round Raven and crashed a stinging cross in to the danger area, and it took a block from Livesey to prevent Bradbury from converting what would have been an easy tap in.

Bradbury followed that up with a weak effort from the edge of the 18 yard box as the game maintained its high tempo, with both sides attacking with purpose.

Simon Hackney left two men for dead on 19 minutes when he took possession, tight on the left wing, before dropping his shoulder and injecting some pace. Danny Graham was waiting, but his first time volley was wild, and it never troubled the keeper.

Joe Anyinsah thought he'd opened his Carlisle account on 26 minutes when he controlled a difficult bouncing ball before thumping a crisp volley towards the bottom corner. Begovic got a strong hand to it, but he had to watch and wonder as it crept its way agonisingly wide of the woodwork.

The Cumbrians had done enough to warrant a lead and they were rewarded in the 27th minute when Joe Garner stood strong, with his back to goal. He bided his time before spinning away from his marker, leaving the defence on the back foot. He then picked his spot with an unstoppable shot that Begovic dived for, but had no chance of getting to.

Bournemouth almost replied in kind just 60 seconds later as Gradel won a midfield challenge and swung the ball in. Hollands had plenty of time and space at the back post, but his 12 yard shot was easily blocked as he dithered a moment too long before pulling the trigger.

At the other end Danny Graham did well to cushion a long ball forward for Garner to tussle for. The tricky forward took it on his chest before unleashing a 25 yard volley that Begovic had to watch closely.

United's second of the day came from absolutely nowhere as Aranalde appeared to have over hit a free kick from very deep. As it floated down towards the cross bar, the hapless keeper became caught in two minds as he debated whether to tip it over the bar or catch it. In the end he went for the latter option and spilled it as his hands smacked against the woodwork. Joe Garner was on the follow up, and he was able to knee it in to the roof of the net as Begovic looked on in horror.

Carlisle were looking confident, and Garner almost claimed his hat-trick in time added on to the first half when Graham used his pace and strength to carve an opening. The 19-year-old set himself, but Begovic was equal to it on this occasion as he beat the volley away on the dive.

Half Time: Bournemouth 0 - 2 United

The second half sprung in to the life in the 50th minute when Gradel tricked his way in to a crossing position on the right. It was a great delivery, and Livesey did well to head it behind his own goal as Bradbury rose to apply the finishing touch.

The Cherries were trying to raise their game, but it was all very comfortable for a Carlisle side who looked to have the measure of their opponents.

That was to change in the 55th minute though as Bournemouth got in to the box in numbers. Kuffour was the first to shoot, as he tried to turn Murphy, 13 yards from goal. That shot was blocked, and Gradel was next to try his luck. His 10 yard volley was brilliantly saved by Westwood, but the parry invited the unmarked Kuffour to try again with a stinging, left foot drive. Blue shirts threw themselves at it, but it found a way through as it nestled in the bottom corner, to give the home side hope.

The home fans woke up, and it became much more nervy for Carlisle as every Cherries move forward was greeted with an increase in volume from the crowd. Lee Bradbury came with an inch of levelling in the 63rd minute when he took a difficult pass on the chest before spinning and lobbing a cheeky volley towards the back post. Westwood was beaten, but it dropped just the wrong side of the target as far as the home side were concerned.

Bradbury was on target 60 seconds later when he rifled a beauty towards the top corner from 24 yards. Westwood was at his best once more, reaching out to get enough of a hand to it to divert it away from the goal.

Lee Bradbury went up against Westwood again in the 54th minute when he connected with a rasping volley that had goal written all over it. The big stopper was alert yet again, and his save took the ball away from the line of red that was following up.

Joe Anyinsah earned his side some welcome breathing space in the 66th minute when he made the most of another defensive mix up. Gowling and Pearce got in each others way as they tried to clear it, and the on-loan Preston man needed just one touch as he spun and buried the ball in the back of the net from 16 yards out.

Westwood came out on top again in his own personal battle in the 67th minute when Bradbury guided a header towards the roof of the net. The United stopper rose majestically to, somehow, push it on to the bar. Murphy assisted with the final clearance, but it was the Carlisle number 1 who deserved the applause.

Sam Vokes put a header in to the ground from a 79th minute corner as the Cherries kept plugging away, but Westwood was on top of his game and grasped it safely.

Kuffour had two half chances in the 82nd minute as the Cumbrians protected what they had, but neither had the conviction to make things difficult for the Carlisle defence.

If Westwood had been good before he was beyond excellent in the 85th minute when he defied logic by somehow getting enough on to a dipping, swirling, curling Vokes shot that looked dead set for the roof of the net. The 22 yard shot had the fans behind the goal on their feet, but they hadn't counted on the athleticism of a goal keeper who was enjoying an amazing 90 minutes.

Half chances were blocked at both ends in a frantic closing spell, with Greg Abbott urging his side to attack every time they got the ball, and Bournemouth were throwing men forward themselves as they looked to salvage something from the game.

It wasn't to be for the home side, and Carlisle United left the Fitness First Stadium with a well deserved and well earned 3 points.

Goals

Bournemouth - Kuffour (55)

United - Garner (27, 39), Anyinsah (66)

Bookings

Bournemouth - Pearce (38), Cooper (68), Gradel (86)

Teams

Bournemouth - Begovic, Wilson (O'Connor 78), Cooper, Gowling (Pitman 90), Pearce, Telfer (Vokes 69), Gradel, Hollands, Anderton, Kuffour, Bradbury. Subs - Newman, Moss.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Anyinsah (Gall 80), Bridge-Wilkinson, Lumsdon, Hackney (Smith 73), Graham (Carlton 87), Garner. Subs - Howarth, Arnison. 

Away Fans - tbc