United rounded off a busy October with a home game against Yeovil Town on Saturday but they were ultimately made to pay for wasting good opportunities as the visitors grabbed a late victory with almost the last kick of the game.

The Blues huffed and puffed, without quite making the clear-cut opening they needed, and salt was rubbed deep into the wounds when Tom James smacked his deflected set piece into the back of the net, leaving the hosts with no time at all to put things right.

Danny Grainger, Gary Liddle and Jamie Devitt returned to the match day squad, following their recent injury lay-offs, and youth second-year Liam McCarron also retained his place as he continues to progress.

Manager John Sheridan made just one change to the starting line-up from Tuesday, with Gary Liddle taking a place at the heart of the defence at the expense of Richie Bennett.

The Glovers won the toss and opted to attack the Waterworks End first, but play was disrupted with just 60 seconds gone when Alex Pattison fell heavily, needing treatment for what looked like a hurt knee.

Carlisle picked up the pace when the game restarted and Baxter had to tip a stinging 25-yard drive from Gillesphey over the bar as it dipped late and threatened to creep in. The same player was on the end of the resulting corner but his header skewed off into the Warwick.

Yeovil attacked at pace as they used Browne as an outlet and he went past Sowerby to open things up at a tight angle. His shot took a deflection before crashing into the side netting.

The same player left two in his wake as he burst through midfield, in the next promising away move forward, and his run from the half way line took him to the edge of the area. He appeared to lose his nerve, with just Collin to beat, and his attempt at a lob was wildly inaccurate. 

A determined run from Mike Jones took him past a wrong-footed defence as he searched for a gap, and it did indeed open up as he dropped a shoulder to shoot low. It hit Mugabi, but Baxter had time to readjust and palm it wide of his upright as it spun wickedly towards the bottom corner.

Quick movement from Campbell allowed him to turn as he received the ball just inside the Yeovil half, and his threaded pass to Nadesan brought Baxter off his line. The stopper got there in the nick of time as the in-form forward stretched out a toe in an attempt to get a touch.

Assured handling from Adam Collin prevented the away side from building up any kind of real momentum, and a massive kick from the keeper put centre back Bevis Mugabi under real pressure as it skipped off the surface. He went for safety first by putting it behind, with Campbell and Nadesan on his heels, and United kept the pressure on with Jones in attendance as the corner was hooked away. His cross to the back post was controlled by Yates, but he was off balance and he sent his snapshot well wide.

Tenacity from Nadesan and Campbell won the Blues another corner, as they harried their man, and a touch from the delivery found Liddle unmarked. It was at a difficult height, so his volley lacked power, but a hooped shirt was still needed to make a clearance off the line as it spun towards the bottom corner.

Yeovil created something from nothing just before the break when top scorer Alex Fisher found space in the box. He went for a cheeky and unexpected lob but Collin was equal to it as he threw an arm up to get a vital touch.

Patient possession play eventually led to an opening for Slater deep into the six minutes of time added on for the first half, but Mugabe stood tall to make the block and Dickinson completed the clearance.

Excellent individual work from Nadesan saw him drag the ball past two challenges at the start of the second half as he worked hard to add to his tally. His shot from the penalty spot was firmly struck but Baxter executed a fine save as he dived down to his right.

Another good situation was wasted by the hosts when Slater sparked an attack with a forceful surge in the centre of the park. He found Campbell, who threaded it to Etuhu, but he was wayward with a shot from distance when he had options left and right.

Efforts from Gray and Patrick had to be watched by Collin as Yeovil started to get forward more just past the hour, and crosses from Liddle and Jones had hints of quality without quite managing to find a blue shirt in any kind of threatening position. 

Youngster Liam McCarron lifted home spirits when he used his first touch of the game to run at the Yeovil defence. He angled inside and shot with his left boot but it took a deflection and that made it easy for Baxter to grasp.

James went close for the away side when he got on the end of an inswinging corner, but there was more frustration at the other end when Nadesan rolled a pass back for Jones to strike. He got his bearings all wrong and it spun harmlessly away. 

There was better from Gillesphey when he played a one-two with Jones out wide before angling his run and drilling a powerful effort at the nets. Baxter stood tall to beat it away. Collin had to do the same when Yeovil sent men forward, with McDonald trying his luck when Yeovil broke, but strong hands were enough to keep it out.

Jones forced a corner with a dipper of an attempt as the board showing five minutes of time added was raised, but he was guilty of spooning another shot from distance wide when the half clearance from the Devitt set piece delivery came his way.

A spin and cross from Devitt in the final minute deserved better, but it flashed across the face of goal only to be cleared.

Then came the killer blow as the Glovers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Tom James unleashed a thundering drive, and a huge deflection off Sowerby's elbow left Collin with no chance as it skimmed past his shoulder and over the line.

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Goals

Yeovil Town - James (90+6)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Collin, Sowerby, Liddle, Gerrard, Gillesphey, Yates (Bennett 71), Slater (McCarron 80), Jones, Etuhu, Campbell (Devitt 60), Nadesan. Subs - Gray, Miller, Grainger, Glendon.

Yeovil Town - Baxter, Dickinson, Mugabi, Browne, Patrick (McDonald 65), Fisher (Arquin 80), Pattison (Gray 29), D'Almeida, James, Olomola, Donnellan. Subs - Nelson, Rogers, Mahmutovic, Santos.

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Referee - Mr Thomas Bramall

Attendance - 3,928 (125 away fans)