Chris Billy earned a recall to the United starting line up for this important trip to face a Bournemouth side that have had to endure a painful run of no win in ten League outings.

Danny Livesey took his expected place at the right of defence with ex-Cherries striker Derek Holmes starting from the bench.

A cagey start would see the play restricted to the middle third of the pitch, with only Steve Foley trying a pot shot from long range in the 3rd minute.

Things sprung to life in the 4th minute, though, when Hawley ran on to a ball over the top and found himself clear. As he shaped to shoot he tumbled to the ground, under pressure from Maher, and Mr Whitestone had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Goal number 7 for Karl

Hawley picked himself up to take the kick and made no mistake as he slotted it in to the back of the net, sending Moss the wrong way.

The Cherries raced forward in search of an immediate equaliser from the kick off and a 7th minute corner saw Fletcher and Hayter causing problems. The loose ball dropped to Billy on the goal line and his smashed clearance ricocheted off Livesey and, fortunately, was claimed by the waiting Westwood as it could have gone anywhere.

At the other end an inswinging Lumsdon corner found its way through to Hawley who tried to volley it first time, but Maher did well to get the block in and divert it over the bar. Livesey won the header when this one was delivered, but Peter Murphy was stretching and could only poke the ball right at Moss in the Cherrie's goal.

The home side started to see much more of the ball, after the lively start from Carlisle, in a decent spell that had them pressing forward. A deep cross in the 14th minute had to be put away for a corner by Harper and it took a fingertip touch from Westwood to get it off the head of Hollands as he tried to convert the looping Purches cross from the right.

Hollands had a 23 yarder blocked for a corner after another short exchange of passes and Shaun Maher was disappointed that he couldn't put things right when he blazed his swiped volley over from 10 yards as it dropped nicely at his feet, from the cross in from the left.

Fletcher came within an inch of equalising, although he didn't know much about it, when a teasing cross in to the area was met on the full by Livesey. The ball rattled in to the big striker, but he couldn't react quickly enough and had to watch as the rebound zipped wide of the post.

United were battling for every ball and making things very hard for Bournemouth, but they did find a way through on 28 minutes when a Hayter cross was only half cleared by Gray. Hollands was quickly on to it but he couldn't get the direction on his powerful drive from 16 yards out, and it flew well wide in the end.

The best passage of play of the half came on 35 minutes when Harper took a pass with his back to goal, 20 yards out. Wasting no time at all he picked out the run of Hawley with a lovely flick that set the striker through one on one with the keeper. Moss was quick to react and closed the gap, forcing a hurried lob that dropped the wrong side of the woodwork from United's point of view.

It was mostly hopeful, long range efforts from the Cherries as they continued to struggle to break down the resolute Carlisle back line and Hayter was guilty of another wild sweep as he curled a left footed shot beyond the far post, with options to his left.

Ex-England international Darren Anderton found that his disappointing afternoon would come to a close on 43 minutes when he had to leave the field, being replaced by Brett Pitman.

Peter Murphy was on the end of everything in time added on as he brought runs to a halt and made sure that he was in the right place whenever a cross was delivered. Jack Cork had a shot blocked, watching it spin away for a corner, and a lack lustre header from Fletcher that was easy for Westwood just about summed up what had been a less than inspiring display from a Bournemouth side who were struggling to make any kind of impact.

Half Time: Bournemouth 0 - 1 United

It was still all to play for as the players lined up for the second half with United having had much the better of the opening 45 minutes.

Kev Harper showed his pace in the 47th minute when he ran a full 60 yards before sending in a lovely cross. Bournemouth cleared, but the respite was brief as Gall harried and hustled on the right hand side. He won the ball, releasing Lumsdon, and it had to be put behind for a corner as Harper waited at the back post.

It took a set piece for Bournemouth to finally trouble the Carlisle goal and the 57th minute delivery from Foley was a difficult one for the United defence to deal with. Fletcher got on the end of it, 8 yards from goal, and blasted it towards the roof of the net. Westwood pulled off a fantastic save, parrying the ball skywards, and it took more good work on the line from Aranalde and Murphy to make sure that it stayed out.

Steve Foley had a shot of his own from 14 yards out as the crowd started to perk up a bit, but he couldn't direct it away from Westwood, who dropped gratefully on to it.

There were huge shouts for handball from the home crowd on 66 minutes as Aranalde raced clear from his own box, but the Ref wasn't interested as he waved play on. With the ball spending more time in the Carlisle half, it was another period of stoic defending from a Cumbrian back line that refused to wilt.

The big frame of Steve Fletcher was becoming more of a target and he was on the end of a deep Hayter cross in the 70th minute that he will feel he could have done better with. He nodded it downwards but couldn't get the power that would put it beyond the keeper.

Simon Hackney created a chance for himself on 73 minutes when he caught Young unawares, loitering on the ball. Reaching the edge of the 18 yard box he went for power, and thumped his shot high over the bar.

It was hearts in the mouth time with 8 minutes to go when Purches received the ball in a dangerous position on the left of the Carlisle area. Aranalde was across to block it but his touch wrong footed Westwood and it was a case of wait and see as to where the ball would land. As the Carlisle keeper fell to the floor he was very relieved to see it nestle in to the outer side of the netting.

The arrival of Songo'o from the bench had spiced things up for the Cherries and he would have a go himself from 25 yards as it all opened up before him in the 85th minute. Westwood was well placed once more as he gathered it with ease.

It seemed that a penalty appeal was coming with every ball in to the Carlisle box as the clock ticked down and it was a nervy period as blue shirts waited to see what would be given.

In to time added on and Fletcher thought he was about to score when he latched on to a nod down just 8 yards out. It took yet another block from Murphy to preserve the one goal lead. The resulting corner brought a half clearance that Bertrand collected 30 yards out and it would need Lumsdon, this time, to knock it for a corner.

With everyone camped in the Cumbrian half Simon Hackney almost rounded things off when he went one on one with Moss in the 94th minute, but the keeper did just enough to stop the pacey winger from sliding the ball in to an empty net.

This was a superb win for a Carlisle side who came here to battle and who fully deserved their 3 points. The reaction of the manager at the final whistle, shaking the hand of each and every one of his players, demonstrated just how important these three points were, and it sets the club up nicely for what will be an important period ahead.

Goals

United - Hawley (pen 5)

Bookings

Bournemouth - Maher (4)

United - Westwood (62)

Teams

Bournemouth - Moss, Young, Maher, Fletcher, Foley (Songo'o 80), Hollands, Hayter, Anderton (Pitman 43), Bertrand, Cork, Purches. Subs - Stewart, Gowling, Broadhurst.

United - Westwood, Livesey, Murphy, Gray, Aranalde, Billy (Hackney 61), Lumsdon, Thirlwell, Harper (Holmes 76), Gall (Grand 90), Hawley. Subs - Williams, McDermott.