Peter Murphy came into the heart of the defence to make his first start of the season for the visit of the Grecians with Richard Keogh ruled out with an ankle injury.

The side was otherwise unchanged from the 2-1 midweek victory over Stockport County at Edgeley Park with Kevan Hurst making his home debut.

United started well and a 4th minute Anyinsah break took him clear on the left. His cross dropped in the box but it was behind Dobie and Archibald-Henville was able to clear.

The Cumbrians almost took the lead on 13 minutes when Ian Harte floated a free kick to the far post. Danny Livesey rose to greet it but his header drifted beyond the far post.

A Kevan Hurst corner on 14 minutes needed the head of Barry Corr to take it away as Livesey raced in once again, and Joe Anyinsah was inches away from connecting with a long kick forward from Pidgeley as Cozic mis-timed his clearance.

Matt Robson found an early cross in the 23rd minute that had Kavanagh and Dobie chasing into the box. Dobie got his head to it but he couldn't find the direction and he sent it wide.

Dobie's persistence in the 27th minute forced Taylor to concede a corner, and Danny Livesey was a whisker away from converting that one as he steamed in at the far post.

Barry Corr registered Exeter's first effort on goal in the 28th minute with a tame long range sho that headed into the Unison stand.

Anyinsah stayed strong and shielded the ball in Carlisle's next attack and that created room for Robson to overlap. He took it to the bye line but his cross was claimed by Jones before the blue shirts could do any damage.

Fantastic one touch football involving Kavanagh, Taiwo and Robson took United to the edge of the area and it was almost the perfect finish to the move, spoiled only by the attentive Archibald-Henville who got enough on it to stop Dobie in his tracks.

Anyinsah and Robson broke again moments later and Dobie put the defender under pressure as the ball hung up at the back stick. The angle of the bar and post came into play to spare the blushes of an own goal.

The resulting corner from Hurst was eventually lobbed back into the area and Livesey did well to cushion it across the face of the 6-yard box. Dobie stabbed it towards goal but Cozic was there to clear it off the line.

It was a good spell for the home side and a goalmouth scramble ensued following another excellent delivery into the area. That was cleared by Taylor as Anyinsah and Harte tried to claim the glory.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Exeter

Danny Livesey had seen a few sighters in the first half and his 50th minute header from a Robson corner had Paul Jones beaten all ends up as it angled towards the top corner. Taylor was yet again the hero on the line as he came off the post to nod it away.

Matt Robson created a chance for himself from nothing with a surging run in the 65th minute that took him beyond two challenges. He steadied himself before shooting and keeper Paul Jones had a heart-in-the-mouth moment as the ball spun, skipped off his chest and bobbled just wide of the goal.

The Grecians grabbed the lead for themselves though in the 73rd minute when a slick move unlocked the Carlisle back door. Marcus Stewart went one-on-one with Pidgeley and the big keeper clipped his heels leaving the referee with no choice but to point at the spot. Veteran forward Stewart did the rest for himself with the penalty kick.

United pressed forward and peppered the box with crosses, with Dobie and Madine heading wide in the closing stages, but they couldn't grab the goal as Exeter dug deep.

Goals

Exeter - Stewart (pen 73)

Bookings

United - Pidgeley (73)

Exeter - Logan (74)

Teams

United - Pidgeley, Raven, Harte, Livesey, Murphy, Hurst, Robson, Kavanagh, Taiwo, Dobie, Anyinsah (Madine 77). Subs - Collin, Horwood, Rothery, Tinnion, Burns, Kane.

Exeter - Jones, Tully, Duffy, Russell, Taylor, Harley, Corr (Logan 71), Cozic (Saunders 46), Stewart (Edwards 88), Sercombe, Archibald-Henville. Subs - Marriott, Seabourne, Golbourne, Norwood.

Away fans - 266