United began their new era with a visit from Charlton Athletic as they returned to League One action.
Manager Paul Simpson handed starts to new signing Josh Emmanuel and the returning Owen Moxon as he made two changes in total from the side that beat Harrogate Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy – with suspended duo Alfie McCalmont and Joe Garner missing out.
Meanwhile, there were places on the bench for under-18 duo Aran Fitzpatrick and Josh O’Brien for the second straight game, alongside Sean Maguire who returned to action having missed the Harrogate clash through illness.
The opening exchanges were played amid the backdrop of a buoyant atmosphere following the pre-match appearance of the Piatak Family on the pitch, who were officially welcomed to Brunton Park after their takeover of the club was confirmed on Wednesday.
And with their fans in fine voice, it was the Blues who had the first real chance of the afternoon – Jordan Gibson picking up Jon Mellish’s flick before firing straight at Ashley Maynard-Brewer from 30 yards out.
After that early sight of goal, United had to do their fair share of defending as Charlton started to apply some pressure. Dylan McGeouch made a crucial block to divert a goal-bound Corey Blackett-Taylor before Corey Whelan thwarted Alfie May as he found space in the area.
But while the Addicks were seeing more of the ball, the hosts still posed a goal threat and Gibson again threatened as he cut inside and curled over after the Addicks could only half-clear a corner.
Tomas Holy made his first save of note as the game closed in on the half hour mark, getting down well to hold Scott Fraser’s well-struck strike from 20 yards.
At the other end, Moxon arrowed a rasping first-time effort from 25 yards narrowly over as the game began to open-up after a cagey opening period.
Miles Leaburn was next to threaten as his shot took a wicked deflection towards goal, with Holy then bravely gathering as Alfie May looked to pick up the scraps as the visitors kept the move alive.
And Charlton would come even closer to taking the lead on 38 minutes – Blackett-Taylor surging forward before seeing his powerful drive from 25 yards cannon back off the bar.
Gibson continued to look lively on the left flank for Carlisle and twice threatened before the break. His first effort from the edge of the box had Maynard-Brewer scrambling before eventually flying past the post, with the forward then forcing the stopper into a save from a tight angle after pinching possession deep in the opposition half.
That buoyed the Blues who began to look the likelier to open the scoring. Maynard-Brewer was again called into action to hold Plange’s towering header while Emmanuel took down a cross-field ball before seeing his shot blocked by Tayo Edun.
But there was to be no breakthrough prior to the interval and, having soaked up that late Carlisle pressure, Charlton began the second half strongly.
Holy had to be brave to come and smother as May looked to latch onto a through ball before the ‘keeper claimed Leaburn’s low strike – but Michael Appleton’s side made their early second half pressure count when they look the lead on 54 minutes. May fed the overlapping Tennai Watson on the right flank and his low cross was met by Blackett-Taylor who swept home from 10 yards out.
United responded well, with Moxon firing over from range and Plange glancing a header wide from Gibson’s teasing delivery as the hosts began to ask some more questions.
So it was little surprise when a leveller came just eight minutes after the opening goal. Gibson and Armer combined well to allow the former to get to the touchline, and his low cross found its way to the feet of Sam Lavelle who took a touch before firing home from inside the area.
Carlisle were indebted to Holy for ensuring they remained on level terms though, as he made a fine double save to keep out Leaburn and Edun just minutes after the equaliser.
Ben Barclay made a similarly crucial intervention to deny Blackett-Taylor, hooking a lofted effort away from goal, and Holy smartly kept out Michael Hector’s flicked attempt from a corner as Charlton looked to regain their advantage.
And having dealt with those moments, the hosts finished strongly.
Mellish embarked on a trademark run before angling his drive over the woodwork while Maynard-Brewer had to stoop down to hold a Lavelle header from a tempting Moxon corner.
But despite Carlisle's late pressure, there was to be no dramatic finale as the sides shared the spoils.
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Match Sponsor – MKM
Associate Sponsor – Cecil Street Auto Repairs
Associate Sponsor – Gordons Construction
Match Ball Sponsor – Premier Electrical
Match Ball Sponsor – More Handles
Match Ball Sponsor – KC Superbikes
Match Ball Sponsor – Kingmoor Park
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Goals
Carlisle United – Lavelle 62
Charlton Athletic – Blackett-Taylor 54
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Bookings
Carlisle United – None
Charlton Athletic – None
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Teams
Carlisle United – Holy, Armer, Moxon, Lavelle, Gibson, Whelan, McGeouch (Edmondson 70), Mellish, Barclay, Plange (Maguire 70), Emmanuel (Butterworth 70). Subs: Breeze, Robinson, Fitzpatrick, O’Brien
Charlton Athletic –Maynard-Brewer, Jones, Dobson, Hector, May, Fraser (Campbell 77), Leaburn, McGrandles (L Watson 87), Edun, T Watson, Blackett-Taylor. Subs: Walker, Thomas, Ness, Tedic, Asiimwe
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Match officials
Referee – Leigh Doughty
Assistant Referee 1 – Paul Hodskinson
Assistant Referee 2 – Matthew Smith
Fourth Official – Paul Marsden
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Attendance – 10,477 (964 away)
