Greg Abbott handed a first start for the club to Danny Carlton and Martin Brittain for this Carling Cup Second Round clash against Championship pace-setters Coventry City, with the back four unchanged as they went in search of their fourth clean sheet of the campaign.
It all started brightly for United and they could have been ahead as early as the 2nd minute when Lumsdon fed a ball towards the strikers. Hackney got it, but he scuffed his shot, confusing the Sky Blue defence. Danny Graham was quick to react, and he ignored the chance of an early shot as he dragged it around the advancing Page. A low, thundering strike followed but it flew just the wrong side of the upright as far as the Cumbrians were concerned.
Steve Hughes sent an effort right at Westwood as Coventry tried to build an attack, and both teams demonstrated that they were out there to win as they went in to the tackles with a full-blooded approach.
Cairo swiped a long range effort in to the Warwick in the 13th minute after a decent spell of possession from the visitors, and Martin Brittain was unlucky not to pick out Carlton with an incisive pass as United responded at the other end.
The Sky Blues showed their skill in the 18th minute when Cairo and Adebola linked up to carve open a chance. It was a back heel from the tricky striker that set Cairo free, and his shot was deflected by Raven. Mifsud was following up, and it took a brave block from Arnison to make sure that he got enough on it to send it away for a corner.
The same pair combined again on 20 minutes, with Adebola finding that his shot was blocked on this occasion, as City started to apply a bit of pressure.
They utilised the strength of Adebola to maximum effect in the 22nd minute when he was able to control the ball before shielding it and then laying it in to the path of Mifsud. He kept his concentration, and put his foot through it , leaving Westwood with no chance as it zipped in to the back of the net.
Carlisle threatened with their first corner of the game in the 29th minute with Livesey winning the first header, but the ball back in from Brittain found Hackney offside. Coventry broke quickly with Mifsud finding space, and he picked out the mobile Dele Adebola. Westwood was out quickly, saving well as the big striker struck his shot, and Cairo was disappointed not to hit the target when he popped the rebound over the bar.
Dave Raven put a Lumsdon free kick straight at Marshall, under pressure from Borrowdale, and it was the Sky Blues who were looking the more dangerous as they broke quickly and in numbers at every opportunity.
United crafted an excellent move in the 36th minute when Graham held the ball up in midfield. Brittain made his move, and crossed first time, knowing that there would be blue shirts in the box. Carlton rose on the penalty spot, but it was just too high and he directed the header over the bar.
It was a decent spell for the home side and Chris Lumsdon was next to go close when he skied a volley over the bar as he arrived late at the edge of the box.
The Cumbrians ended the half with a flourish of attacks, peppering the Coventry area with teasing crosses, but it was Maltese international Mifsud who would have the last say as he refused to give up on a ball that Aranalde and Raven appeared to have under control, and forced Westwood in to a sprawling save.
Half Time: United 0 - 1 United
The second half got off to a frantic start with probes at both ends, with Adebola battling against the United defence whilst Graham created space to attempt to play Carlton in on target at the other end.
Raven and Arnison were giving their all to keep the door closed at the back, with clear cut chances rare in the opening exchanges.
Danny Carlton was unlucky in the 55th minute when Hall miscued a clearance, sending it towards the Carlisle forward. On the stretch, he couldn't keep the half volley down and put it high in to the crowd.
Coventry responded with a slick move consisting of one-touch passes that sent Cairo free on the wing. His cross was met by Mifsud at the far post, and he had space and time enough to be able to guide it in to the back of the net to double his tally for the night.
Abbott brought Gall and Smith on to the field on the hour mark as he tried to get something from the game, and Cairo looked to capitalise on the space as the Cumbrians pressed forward. His shot from 25 yards in the 64th minute dipped, but not enough to trouble the keeper.
United almost pulled one back in the 66th minute when Lumsdon played a pass out to Gall on the right wing. He cut past Borrowdale before drilling a cross towards the back post. Carlton met it, but he couldn't get the control that was needed to put it beyond Marshall. Gall had the keeper diving again within a matter of seconds when he shot on the run as the Sky Blues seemed happy to sit deep on their lead.
Carlton flashed a volley wide after good work by Brittain in the 71st minute, and Mifsud threw away a decent hat-trick chance in the 79th minute when he played a one/two to get inside the penalty area, only to then lean back and shank his volley over the bar.
Martin Brittain was making things happen with his crosses and Jeff Smith ran on to another deep one in the 83rd minute that invited the snap volley. The United winger got to it, but he couldn't get under it as he sent it wide. Kev Gall then pushed one wide as he shot on the turn from 22 yards as the ball wouldn't quite fall for the home side.
Kev Gall brought the save of the night from Marshall in the 89th minute when he cracked a thunderous volley towards the bottom corner, and the keeper did well to get a strong hand to it and push it around the post.
Bookings
United - Lumsdon (76)
Goals
Coventry - Mifsud (22, 56)
Teams
United: Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Aranalde, Brittain, Lumsdon, Thirlwell (McDermott 68), Hackney (Smith 60), Graham (Gall 60), Carlton. Subs - Howarth, Kirkup.
Coventry: Marshall, Page (Hall 20), Ward (Turner 81), Hughes, Doyle, Adebola (Simpson 71), Cairo, Osbourne, Mifsud, Tabb, Borrowdale. Subs - Konstantopoulos, McKenzie.
Away fans - 428
