It was the relatively short hop to Spotland to face Rochdale on Saturday afternoon for the Blues as they looked to make it three in a row following a good start to the year.

And it was an unchanged 18 from the midweek win over Hartlepool for manager Paul Simpson, with confidence high in the group.

United had an excellent chance with just 60 seconds on the clock when hesitation in the home defence allowed Gibson to nip in and steal possession on the edge of the area. Gordon was in support, but he chose not to shoot after he'd dropped a shoulder. He was forced wide and the moment was gone.

Determined work from Lloyd for the hosts saw him break through midfield with the ball at his feet. He had Dodgson on the overlap, and Holy did well to grasp the centred ball after it had skipped off Feeney's boot.

Seriki was next to cause problems as he turned on a short throw to beat three challenges. He looked to cut it back, but it was cleared as far as Kris Dennis. He kept his head, and lobbed a beauty of a pass over the back line for Gordon to chase. The Palace striker hit the afterburners and calmly picked his spot.

Back to goal shielding from Gordon opened things up again with Dennis suddenly in space as the visitors largely dominated. The striker was at distance but his shot lacked direction and it bent harmlessly wide.

A scuffed Moxon corner caused all kinds of problems after it had been flicked on at the front stick. It bobbled about as Dennis and Huntington kept it alive, but Gibson was ambitious with an 18-yard overhead kick that flew into the stands.

Dennis was on the end of a Moxon free kick as the game became a bit of a battle in midfield, but his header looped into Eastwood's hands as the keeper adjusted his feet to grasp it.

A huge kick forward from the home stopper found Huntington alert in defensive mode, but his header struck Rodney, who quickly shaped to shoot. It was on target but easy for Holy. 

The Cumbrians responded with some neat football with Dennis on the end of a raking pass from Moxon. Another snapshot from range sailed well wide.

Gordon regained possession in his own half before strutting forward to spread it wide with Dale struggling to make any kind iof impact. The cross into the area was nudged, and that took it away from two at the back post.

Dale created some half chances, and Lloyd whipped a dangerous teaser into the mix as Rodney lurked. A feinted volley was yet again straight at Holy.

Moxon bent a free kick from distance high over the target in time added on for the period, and it was the away contingent who were happiest heading up the tunnel.

Carlisle were in attacking mood from the restart and the ball was worked to Guy, via Armer and Mellish, in the opposition half. He kept his effort low but it skipped past the upright.

Dale responded with some neat touches and a looped cross fell to Mellor, who was unmarked. He got his bearings wrong with the header and Huntington and Gibson were able to mop things up.

The officials had regular decisions to make as both teams scrapped for everything, with appeals turned down for everything when things appeared to be obvious.

Chances were few and far between, with a weak headed effort from Ball that angled wide the closest either side came for a long spell.

United looked to have carved a way through on 65 minutes when Gibson robbed Keohane on the halfway line. He sprinted onwards, and used Senior on the overlap. He crossed early but that was cut out.

A run of corners for the Cumbrians with 20 minutes left to play were defended well, with no way through, but a fantastic break down the left flank saw Mellish run free and into the area. He cut it back for Dennis, but the in-form forward mishit his shot and it spun away. Patrick retrieved it, but the pull back was cut out.

A triple substitution brought a lift for the home team and substitute Abraham Odoh had Holy at full stretch with a blistering effort from the edge of the box. The keeper got both hands there to palm it away.

Quigley turned on a throw and carried the ball along the 18-yard line but he was off balance as he sent a poor shot high.

Rochdale went from back to front late in the day with a massive kick, and it was taken by Dodgson after Quigley won the header. He dropped a shoulder to make room but his drive was never going to trouble Holy.

But the home side thought they'd netted a late equaliser when a set piece was floated into the box. Henderson finished it off, but the flag was raised for offside for the initial touch.

Blocks and tackles were the order of the day for Carlisle through time added on, and they did what needed to be done to claim their three points.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Gordon (8)

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Bookings

Rochdale - Lloyd (54), Diagouraga (90)

Carlisle United - Huntington (22), Feeney (26), Gordon (36)

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Teams

Rochdale - Eastwood, Seriki, McNulty (Odoh 74), Taylor, Kelly (Diagouraga 40), Ball (Sinclair 86), Mellor, Rodney (Henderson 74), Keohane (c), Dodgson, Lloyd (Quigley 74). Subs - O'Donnell (gk), John.

Carlisle United - Holy, Feeney (c), Huntington, Mellish, Senior, Gibson (McCalmont 78), Guy, Moxon, Armer, Dennis (Garner 78), Gordon (Patrick 62). Subs - Kelly (gk), Whelan, Devitt, Robinson.

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Match officials

Referee - Ross Joyce
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Jones
Assistant Referee 2 - Alan Clayton
Fourth Official - Declan Ford
Observer - Peter Gibbons

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Attendance - 4,042 (1,634)