Greg Abbott stuck with the starting line up that had taken us through the First Round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday evening, favouring the Graham and Garner strike partnership.

Oldham came to Brunton Park in expectant mood, having splashed the cash in the summer, with ex-England hopeful Michael Ricketts leading their line.

A fast-paced start to the game brought a shot from Kilkenny in the 2nd minute that Joe Garner did well to put himself in the way of. His deflection took the sting out of the effort, making it easy for Westwood to gather. Garner then almost squeezed a pass through to Graham when United mounted their first attack, but Giddings stuck a toe out to cut it out as the United striker shaped to break clear.

The Cumbrians thought they'd taken the lead on 5 minutes when Garner won a header on the 18 yard line. Graham was there to nod it back across the face of goal where Jeff Smith buried it in the top corner before starting his celebrations. They were to be short-lived, though, as the offside flag signalled that Graham had moved a moment too early.

Paul Arnison had to be brave in the 18th minute when he threw himself in front of a Davies shot on the edge of the box. United broke forward quickly, and Joe Garner earned a free kick when he was brought down after leaving Gregan for dead out wide.

It was a tense game, with little happening in front of goal as niggling challenges in midfield threatened to get in the way of the football. Westwood had to react sharply, though, on the half hour when Ricketts flicked a cross on for Liddell to race on to. The big Carlisle keeper got there first, claiming it safely under the challenge.

An Abbott altercation with the Ref on the touchline, brought about by a wayward challenge from Eardley that went uncarded, sparked the crowd in to life and Aranalde swung the resulting free kick in to the box. Ricketts swung his leg at it and booted it behind for a corner.

A short, training ground routine brought quick interchange between Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith and Aranalde, with the latter finding the roof of the net with a dipping left foot shot from 19 yards out.

Danny Livesey timed a sliding tackle to perfection on 38 minutes when Liddell played Ricketts through the middle. The Latics forward showed a neat first touch but couldn't get his low shot beyond the Carlisle central defender.

United took the lead from the spot in the 42nd minute following some very measured football. Paul Arnison received it out on the right, then waited for his strikers to show. Spotting Garner in a good position, he floated it forward, inviting the aerial tussle. Thompson tried to get there first, but he went through his man, dumping him on the ground. Mr Miller had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, bringing a strong reaction from the Latics bench.

Danny Graham ignored the remonstrations and slotted the penalty calmly in to the back of the net, sending Crossley the wrong way.

Joe Garner was causing all sorts of problems for Oldham, putting himself everywhere, and won another free kick on 44 minutes as he tried to burst away from two challenges in the centre circle. He had his heels clipped, and the Referee eventually blew for the tackle when the advantage was lost. Danny Graham wasted the shot on this occasion, despite a well worked free kick routine.

Half Time: United 1 - 0 Oldham

Keiren Westwood started the second half as he'd left the first with some excellent handling from a Liddell free kick that was whipped in from out wide, and Garner continued to put himself about, forcing Liddell in to an error that put his side temporarily on the back foot.

Good pressure from the Latics meant that the early exchanges were largely in the Cumbrian half, but KIlkenny and Liddell were left frustrated as the Blues back four stood strong.

Sheridan introduced another attack minded player in the 55th minute when he brought Taylor on for Kalala, with clear cut chances still very much at a premium.

The Cumbrians crafted a great opening on 58 minutes when Gall sprinted clear down the right wing. He was on his own, but he kept possession, waiting for the blue shirts to appear in support. His cross in to the box angled away from Crossley, but Garner was inches from converting it as he slid in to try to apply the decisive touch.

Bridge-Wilkinson was the catalyst to another slick break 60 seconds later when he dinked the ball beyond Allott and made himself acres of space. With Smith and Gall in attendance, he carried it for 50 yards before cutting it right for Gall to pick up. The Carlisle wide man opted for the early shot, but he dragged it well wide, much to his own disappointment.

Another good opening was wasted in the 66th minute when Giddings and Gregan thundered in to each other as they tried to get to a long Arnison ball forward. Gall was on to it, but his chipped cross was easy for Thompson to clear.

Ricketts had a 16 yard volley blocked when he flew on to a Davies header back across the face of the box, and Kilkenny curled a 23 yard free kick a yard wide as Oldham stepped up the pace. Thompson then placed a bullet header just wide from a 72nd minute corner in what was a good spell of possession for the Latics.

Craig Davies was then left stunned in the 73rd minute when he was clipped as he carried the ball in to the 6 yard box from a Ricketts pass. He went down in dramatic style, but the appeals were ignored by the officials.

Davies should have levelled things up on 76 minutes when he had just Westwood to beat. Arrowing in towards goal he drew the keeper, and tried to find the bottom corner with a driven low volley. The keeper was beaten, but so was the target as it fizzed wide.

It was long spells of defending as the Latics threw bodies forward, with substitute Chris Taylor seeing plenty of the ball, and he was furious in the 84th minute when he cut a ball back across the 6 yard line, only to find that none of his strikers had followed in.

Martin Brittain came on to make his debut with 2 minutes to go, but it was still all hands to the pump as the Latics threw men forward. Stuart Giddings spurned the chance of the day deep in to time added on when he found himself with an empty net to aim at. Westwood had just executed a wonderful save as Livesey stuck a toe out, directing it towards the bottom corner. The keeper got his legs to it but, as he was left sprawling on the floor, he had to watch as the ricochet bobbled out towards the waiting defender. He had time and space to work with but he lost his balance and blazed his effort high over the bar.

Goals

United - Graham (42 pen)

Bookings

United - Aranalde (29)

Oldham - Ricketts (14), Gregan (20)

United - Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Aranalde, Bridge-Wilkinson, Thirlwell, Smith, Gall (Brittain 88), Garner, Graham (Carlton 88). Subs - Howarth, Lumsdon, Hackney.

Oldham - Crossley, Eardley, Giddings, Kalala (Taylor 55), Thompson, Ricketts, Allott, Davies, Gregan, Liddell (Smalley 86), Kilkenny. Subs - McDonald, Wolfenden, Bell.

Away fans - 982