United were at Boundary Park this weekend without influential duo Richie Bennett and Jamie Devitt as they nursed their injuries with a view to a speedy return to the action.

Former-Oldham defender Anthony Gerrard was handed the captain's armband on his return to his old stomping ground and Jerry Yates, back from a two-game suspension, joined Mike Jones as the two changes made to the starting line up.

Carlisle were gifted an opening with just three minutes on the clock when Hope hustled Edmundson as they both chased a ball over the top. Nadesan stepped in to nick the weak back pass and Hope rolled it back for Sowerby to shoot. His effort was blocked, but Gillesphey was in support and he immediately drilled the loose pieces across the face of goal. It was inches away from being touched in as both Sowerby and Hope threw themselves at it.

United were then awarded a free kick, 25 yards out, when Etuhu was chopped down by Graham. Sowerby took it and he was a whisker away as his effort dipped late and flew just past the post.

A quickly taken free kick marked Oldham's arrival in the game just before the quarter hour as Hunt streaked away with the ball at his feet. His low cut back asked questions but United defended well and the ball was cleared as it entered the six yard box. 

An excellent touch from Nadesan in the centre circle took him away from his man and he threaded a measured pass through for Hope to get after. Momentarily with just Iverson to beat, he set himself to shoot, but was denied the opportunity by a fine challenge from Edmundson.

The visitors got the goal their enterprising play deserved when Yates carried the ball to the edge of the box. He clipped a delivery towards the far post and a touch from Gardner appeared to have averted the danger. Gillesphey was having none of it, and he kept it alive with a looping header which prevented the ball from going behind. Hallam Hope said thank you very much as he finished it off from very close range.

Keeper Adam Collin was brought into the action for the first time on 27 minutes when Miller used pace to get into the box. His shot on the run was fierce but a strong boot deflected the effort over the bar.

The better football still belonged to Carlisle and they came again as Etuhu and Nadesan pulled strings to make space for Sowerby to shoot. He caught it well but it bent late and Iverson was able to watch as it crept wide.

Back at the other end and a combination of Gerrard and Parkes prevented another cross from Miller from causing any problems. It skipped free, two yards from the line, but a hooked clearance was enough to relieve the pressure.

Gerrard was needed again when Miller fizzed a delivery for Surridge to fight for in what was a better spell for the hosts. The defender stood his ground and put it behind to safety in the nick of time.

A blocked Sowerby cross brought two corners in quick succession for Jones to deliver and Parkes wasn't too far away with a volley on the run from the second one, with a volley which angled a foot wide of the mark. 

Another great block from Gerrard, came from a Miller snapshot as he tried to make a corner his own, and it brought a close to a first half in which the away side had largely bossed the action.

A poorly guided header from Taylor punctuated a slow start to the second half as he tried to make something of a deep Hunt cross. Oldham sent more men forward but Hunt and Miller failed to find a way through as they came up against a resolute defensive wall. A skewed shot from the latter summed up the frustration as it sailed off into the sunset.

Carlisle bided their time and they doubled their advantage when Hope dropped a shoulder and left two in his wake as he attacked down the right flank. He looked up and saw Nadesan running off his marker, and the pass allowed the forward to pick his spot in emphatic style as he rifled an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.

An excellent afternoon became a potential walk in the park for the Cumbrians as Hope once again pulled wide to cause havoc. He waited for Sowerby this time, and the midfielder did the rest as he first feinted and then picked his spot to register his first goal for the club.

Oldham, as expected, threw men forward but their end product lacked quality as the visitors won every 50:50 challenge and loose ball.

But they gave themselves a lifeline when Miller found himself with just Collin to beat with 20 minutes left on the clock. He found the corner of the net as the stopper rushed out, and that sparked the disgruntled home crowd into life.

The closing stages became a catalogue of half chances for both sides but excellent defending from the visitors, and a late scooped effort from Surridge, did little to cause any kind of worry as the forward movement employed by the visitors fizzled away to nothing.

Collin was needed late in the day to tip over from a very close range header from substitute Callum Lang, but that was the last of the action as the Blues made it three away wins in a row with another very accomplished 'on the road' display.

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Goals

Oldham Athletic - Miller (69)

Carlisle United - Hope (21), Nadesan (55), Sowerby (57)

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Bookings

Oldham Athletic - Graham (7)

Carlisle United - Jones (48)

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Teams

Oldham Athletic - Iverson, Taylor, Edmundson, Gardner, Baxter, Surridge, I Miller (O'Grady 73), Missilou (Lang 60), Graham (Branger-Egone 60), Hunt, Clarke. Subs - De La Paz, Dummigan, Nepomuceno, Mauoche.

Carlisle United - Collin, Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Gillesphey, Yates, Sowerby (Slater 90), Jones (Campbell 81), Etuhu, Hope, Nadesan (Glendon 81). Subs - Gray, Miller, Adewusi, McCarron.

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Referee - Mr Dean Whitestone

Attendance - 4,730 (679 away fans)