Carlisle manager Greg Abbott handed league debuts to Lenny Pidgeley, Matt Robson and Tom Taiwo for the visit of last season's League Two champions Brentford, with Danny Livesey and Richard Keogh given the task of marshalling the centre of the defence.

Graham Kavanagh and Joe Anyinsah continued with their striker partnership up front with wide men Cleveland Taylor and Robson taking the job of patrolling the flanks and providing the ammunition.

United thought they'd scored as early as the second minute when Matt Robson swung the ball towards the far post. Cleveland Taylor was there to meet it, but his cushioned header dropped the wrong side of the upright as the fans prepared themselves to celebrate.

The Bees responded when Bennett raced clear on the left and picked Cort out on the edge of the area. The big striker volleyed it but he couldn't get any power and it was easy for Pidgeley.

Carl Cort was inches away from converting a Sam Wood cross-shot, but the ball skidded away from his boot and drifted wide.

The Bees took the lead on 12 minutes when Sam Saunders swung a wicked corner towards the back stick. Myles Weston was unmarked and he was able to bullet his header into the roof of the net from close range.

The Referee waved appeals for a penalty away moments later when Danny Livesey was pulled to the floor as he challenged in the box. The claims were vociferous, but there was no reaction at all from any of the officials.

The balance was redressed in the 16th minute when a Kavanagh cross was stopped in mid-flight by a wayward hand. The whistle went and Ian Harte made no mistake as he drilled it beyond the keeper.

Robson should have given United the lead on 19 minutes when neat football and slick passing unlocked the Bees defence. Taylor pulled a low cross towards the back post but Mark Phillips did well to block just as it appeared that the left winger was about to get his goal.

Anyinsah broke clear in the 23rd minute only to have his shot deflected away by Bennett, and Danny Livesey tested Price when he met a Kavanagh corner on the full. The same player glanced a Taylor cross wide as Carlisle camped forward in search of their second goal.

Taylor was guilty of giving possession away in the 29th minute and that allowed Weston to take the ball down the wing. He pulled it back for Saunders but it was a weak attempt and Pidgeley dropped down to smother it.

Harte blazed a 20-yard free kick into the stands on 31 minutes but Sam Wood should have given his side the lead in the 33rd minute when he was sent through with a clear sight on goal. He shot early but he got too much on it and put it wide of the post.

Ian Harte was a whisker away from his second goal of the day when he met a Kavanagh corner on the volley just 10-yards from the target. The connection was clean but it rose sharply and crept over the bar.

The woodwork came into play in time added on for the half when Keogh nodded a Kavanagh corner back into the mix. Anyinsah challenged for it and it bounced up and over Price before rebounding away off the crossbar.

Half Time: United 1 - 1 Brentford

The Bees were in front within two minutes of the restart when poor defending gave Weston a shooting opportunity just inside the area. He trapped the ball and shot on the turn and it somehow squeezed its way through Pidgeley's hands and legs as it arrowed into the net.

Danny Foster diverted a Harte free kick into the side netting as Carlisle tried to reply, and Cleveland Taylor tried to make things happen on the wing as Brentford closed ranks.

Alan Bennett was on hand to clear a shot from substitute Scott Dobie off the line when the big striker spun and crunched his effort through a gaggle of bodies.

Sam Wood capitalised on a defensive error in the 64th minute when a Pidgeley throw out rushed Harte into a wayward pass. The midfielder strode forward and his shot took a deflection before bouncing off the post and coming to rest in the back of the net.

Dobie forced Price into a save when he tried to curl one into the top corner, but it was Brentford who almost extended their lead when Weston broke from his own half. His cross was on a plate for Saunders to finish at the far post, but he missed his kick and it spun away through his legs.

Pidgeley had to block Saunders when he went one-on-one moments later, but Carlisle were unlucky not to get themselves back into it when Kavanagh pushed a pass on for Robson. His low cross took the keeper out of the equation but Dobie couldn't make up the ground and the moment was gone.

Brentford sat deep and attacked on the break, and they were able to protect their two goal lead to pick up their first three points of the season.

Goals

United - Harte (16 pen)

Brentford - Weston (12, 47), Wood (64)

Bookings

United - Taiwo (42)

Teams  

United - Pidgeley, Raven, Livesey, Keogh, Harte, Taylor, Thirlwell (Bridge-Wilkinson 82), Taiwo (Dobie 56), Robson, Kavanagh, Anyinsah (Madine 75). Subs - Collin, Horwood, Murphy, Kane.

Bees - Price, O'Connor, Dickson, Phillips, Bennett, Saunders, Cort, Weston (Kabba 82), Hunt (Osborne 90), Foster, Wood. Subs - Bull, Ferrell, Franks, Williams.

Away fans - 511