Greg Abbott began his quest to get the Carlisle manager's job full time with his first league game as caretaker boss ending in a win.
We started brightly with chances falling to both sides. We looked the most threatening and had a goal disallowed for offside when Jeff Smith nodded in a cross at the back post after it had been nodded on by Garner and Graham.
Sean Gregan should have been sent off midway through the first half after clattering Joe Garner off the ball. This was after he had already been booked and everyone else apart from the referee thought he should have been off.
The deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when we won a penalty after John Thompson went right through Garner whilst challenging for a header. Danny Graham kept his cool and sent Mark Crossley the wrong way to make it 1-0.
The second half was very different as Oldham upped their game and were happy to let United lay off them so they could pass the ball about in midfield. Kilkenny and Liddell had chances, but were blocked by a solid back line.
The last 10 minutes were spent in the Carlisle half as players were tiring and nothing was been done to supply the men up front. The best chance for Oldham to snatch a point came in injury time when Keiren Westwood slipped after making a save, but Stuart Giddings blasted over from about 12 yards.
A good 3 points as Oldham started the season brightly. Leaves us fifth, so at least we have a strong position to hold on to. We just need to tighten up in midfield and get finishing right and we'll be good for a chance at promotion again :P.
Carlisle: Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Aranalde, Thirlwell, Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith, Gall (Brittain 87), Garner, Graham (Carlton 87).
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Lumsdon, Hackney.
Booked: Aranalde.
Goals: Graham 42 pen.
Oldham: Crossley, Eardley, Gregan, Thompson, Giddings, Liddell (Smalley 86), Allott, Kalala (Taylor 55), Kilkenny, Ricketts, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Bell, McDonald, Wolfenden.
Booked: Ricketts, Gregan.
Att: 7,777.
