United were looking to put the disappointment of last weekend's FA Cup exit to bed as they returned to league action against Sutton United on Saturday.

It was an earlier kick off to accommodate the World Cup schedule, with the knockout stages of that particular competition now in full flow.

There was just one change from last Saturday's FA Cup away day at Walsall with Callum Guy, recovered from his illness, into the midfield pack in place of Taylor Charters.

United started well and a lobbed ball forward from Guy was trapped on the instep by Dennis. He found Edmondson, but Mellish was closed down as he tried to take over.

A through ball from Armer to Edmondson had John stretched and he went for safety first with a clearance behind for a corner. A low delivery from that was cut out at the front stick.

Forward Donovan Wilson dragged an effort from distance wide as the teams sized each other up, but the alert Jordan Gibson sparked an attack when he intercepted in midfield. Edmondson overlapped, but his delivery on the run was halted by Boldewijn.

Sutton had a free kick in a dangerous position on the quarter hour when Moxon slid into a challenge with Bugiel. Milsom got it over the wall but it was comfortably taken by Holy.

United had hearts in mouths when a long throw bounced awkwardly. Bugiel was in space, but he struggled to set himself and Gibson closed him off.

The break was on and Dennis touched the huge kick forward to Mellish. His cushioned header put Edmondson clean through, but the ball was spinning as he shaped to shoot. It came off the top of his boot and curved away from the top corner.

Tenacity from Ellis earned his side a corner, and Guy was deep when it was nodded his way. He found a volley but it was always heading wide.

Sutton had their moments and the ball was worked from left to right before Neufville was closed off. John jumped highest for the set piece but he couldn't get the direction it needed.

Wilson then came forward to make a scrappy passage of play his own as the away team kept sending men forward. He released his effort early but it took a deflection and Holy picked it up.

It was better from Carlisle when Edmondson overlapped to take the ball into the box. He checked his run and turned quickly to pass, but Moxon's shot was diverted away.

United stayed forward and Mellish was there to provide another teaser, and the resulting corner proved to be key as Gibson and Moxon worked it short. The latter clipped a lovely floated punt into the area and Ryan Edmondson made it five for the season with the neatest of glanced touches.

A lovely move from back to front started with Ellis when he showed a cool head with control on his chest. Gibson and Mellish, with Guy also involved, helped Armer helped to create space, and Gibson spotted Guy in a shooting position when it came back under his control. The midfielder feinted, then struck it with his left boot, but it whisked past the post.

There was a scramble in the home area after Randall had sent the ball high, but blocks from Mellish and Huntington left Holy untested.

Sutton were back on terms in time added on for the half when a hopeful pass through the lines was touched by Wilson. His cross on the run was met by Randall, but Holy was equal to that first volley. It fell kindly for the visiting player and he made no mistake with his second attempt.

The second period started with a tense moment for the hosts when Neufville delivered from wide. Wilson dummied, but it skipped past the target with everybody else on their heels.

Lovatt chanced his arm after another good series of passes brought him into play, but it lacked power and it was straight at the keeper.

United lifted the decibel levels when Guy took himself on a winding run that gobbled up the yards. Gibson shadowed him, and a popped pass from the outside of his foot was nodded back into the six-yard area by Edmondson. John cleared before Dennis could finish it off.

The home side stepped things up a notch with Ellis and Armer outlets on the left and right flanks. A corner from Moxon brought penalty appeals and an eventual acrobatic volley from Mellish that struck a yellow shirt. 

Bugiel had a cross that turned into a shot dip into the side netting, and a training ground corner routine at the other end showed real potential as Gibson found Guy. His through ball for Moxon had just too much on it.

Mellish regained possession as Sutton tried to break out, and Armer sent it deep for Edmondson to meet. His header was a difficult one and it dropped onto the roof of the net.

Chances became hard to come by as moves for both sides broke down, and a second goal for Edmondson was chalked off when Stretton latched onto a ball forward from Huntington. Armer centred, the big striker finished it off, but the flag was up.

Jamie Devitt was back on the pitch for his first appearance since the beginning of September, but the game stuttered through to its conclusion, despite a late spell of pressure from the Blues, with a share of the points the end result.

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Match Sponsor - SM Flooring
Associate Sponsor - Premier Electrical
Match Ball Sponsor - West Lakes Recruit
Match Ball Sponsor - John Moffat

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Goals

Carlisle United - Edmondson (30)

Sutton United - Randall (45)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Guy (45), Whelan (90)

Sutton United - Eastmond (71), Hart (90), Kizzi (90)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Holy, Whelan (c), Huntington, Mellish, Ellis, Guy (Devitt 83), Moxon, Gibson, Armer, Edmondson, Dennis (Stretton 68). Subs - Kelly (gk), Hilton, Charters, Sho-Silva, Harris.

Sutton United - Rose, John, Boldewijn, Bugiel (Kouassi 79), Randall (Hart 88), Eastmond (c), Lovatt (Smith 60), Neufville, Kizzi, Milsom, Wilson. Subs - Ward (gk), Fadahunsi, Gambin, Kendall.

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Match officials

Referee - Lewis Smith
Assistant Referee 1 - Darren Williams
Assistant Referee 2 - Conor Brown
Fourth Official - Thomas Kirk
Observer - Michael Pike

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Attendance - 4,752 (70)