The Blues continued their busy schedule with a Wednesday afternoon away reserve meeting with Fleetwood Town at Poolfoot Farm.
There was a welcome return for defender Tom Wilson, who had faced a long lay-off through injury, and Josh Dixon continued his journey towards full fitness as he also made a start.
The Blues dominated the first 45 minutes and they could have been ahead as early as the third minute when Charters went clean through. He volleyed early and the keeper was relieved to see it bounce back to safety off the base of his post.
It was Charters who went close again when he rode a challenge, having been played into a good position by Devine. He had Armstrong and Obiero in support but he dropped a shoulder and curled a superb shot towards the angle of post and bar. He whirled away in disappointment as it struck the bar and, once again, bounced away to safety.
United kept the home side penned in and Obiero had an effort blocked as he ran into the area. The same man was stopped in his tracks as he shaped to shoot when Furman and Hunt had worked their way out of defence to open the slightest of gaps.
The deserved lead came in bizarre fashion when a Dixon set piece had Hunt interested. His presence wrong-footed defender Dylan Boyle and he watched in horror as the ball spooned off his head and looped into the net.
Carlisle continued to look comfortable, but they had only themselves to blame for conceding as Boyle turned from villain to hero. A quickly worked corner caught the defence on the hop and a deep delivery was nodded back into the mix. Boyle jumped high as Norman tried to close the space, but the stopper could do nothng as the ball was guided over the line.
The hosts looked much more lively after the break and the visiting back line had defending to do as crosses came into the box.
But it was United who edged in front following superb work from Devine. He muscled his way onto the ball, clipped it past a challenge and then spun on the run to roll it into the six-yard box. Josh Dixon had followed the move and he had the relatively simple task of smashing it into the waiting net.
Half chances came and went as both sides battled hard, and the hosts were close when a lob from 20-yards bounced just the wrong side of the upright.
Devine drilled one wide at the other end, and it became a professional display as the blue shirts closed ranks to see the game out.
United - Norman, Armstrong, Hunt (c), Wilson (Barnes 65), Armer, Devine, Furman, Dixon (Lightfoot 86), Charters, Bell (Birch 75), Obiero (Fishburn 46). Subs - Robinson.
Goals - Boyle (og 32), Dixon (55)
Booking - Furman (78)
