Carlisle United Football Club

United made the 700-mile round-trip to Exeter City in their first away trip of 2024.

And manager Paul Simpson three changes from the side that beat Port Vale on New Years' Day, which included handing full debuts to January additions Luke Armstrong and Harrison Neal.

They replaced Joe Garner and Owen Moxon, while Corey Whelan also came into the team in place of Ben Barclay.

The game started at a quick pace with United threatening early through Jordan Gibson and Sean Maguire - the former winning possession and teeing-up the latter whose cross was claimed by Vil Sinisalo in the Exeter goal.

Whelan and skipper Sam Lavelle then had to put their bodies on the line to block strikes from Luke Harris and Jack Aitchison before Fulham loanee Harris dragged a shot wide after finding space on the edge of the box.

After that open start, the game became slightly cagier with clear-cut chances at a premium.

Gibson did threaten for the Blues, firing over on the half-volley from 25 yards, while Gabe Breeze had to bravely come and gather a through ball as Aitchison looked to take it around him.

And Gibson also played a key role in the best chance of the opening half an hour. He pinched possession after a slip from Tom Carroll and found Maguire who battled his way into the area before seeing his shot from a tight angle kept out by Sinisalo.

A similar chance presented itself before the interval too, as Gibson this time played in Emmanuel whose first touch was heavy and meant his eventual shot from the angle was parried wide by the Exeter stopper. Jack Robinson's delivery from the resultant corner was a teasing one, but the hosts managed to clear their lines before the Blues could apply a crucial touch.

Both sides had opportunities in the final minutes of the first half - Gibson curling wide from ehe edge of the box after he was picked-out by Armstrong's flick-on, while at the other end Sonny Cox saw a goalbound effort blocked by Whelan in added time.

But while the first half ended goalless, chances continued to flow after the break.

The Cumbrians did threatend first as ack Robinson did well down the left to find Armstrong who was denied by Sinisalo as he looked to prod home at the near post.

Then a fine double save from Breeze kept the hosts at bay - the 'keeper getting down to thwart Aitchison and then Cox's follow-up before Harris fired wide.

Reece Cole then blazed over from 25 yards for the Grecians as they enjoyed a strong spell of pressure, and it would be the midfielder who opened the scoring on 57 minutes.

After Lavelle did well to stop Aitchison connecting with Harris' low cross, the ball fell kindly for Cole who finished from 18 yards.

United responded well and debutant Neal picked out Gibson in space, with the winger taking a touch before drilling wide from just inside the area as the Blues sought a leveller.

But the hosts remained a threat and it took the fingertips of Breeze to deny Cole from doubling his and Exeter's tally when he dug out a shot from 30 yards.

A second did come for Exeter on 78 minutes - Cox reacting quickest to slot home after Aitchison's drive came back off the woodwork.

Breeze then had to deny Pierce Sweeney and Alex Hartridge after the hosts kept a corner alive, before substitutes Dan Butterworth and Joe Garner combined to find Jon Mellish who was crowded-out before he could shoot.

Armstrong then came within inches of reducing the deficit as he connected with Dan Butterworth's cross but saw his prodded strike come back off the woodwork.

The Blues would get one back on 86 minutes through, as a corner was only cleared as far as Butterworth who fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The same player almost levelled after a mazy run, only for his eventual effort to be held by Sinisalo.

That was the last real chance of note, as Exeter saw out the game.

+++++++

Goals

Exeter City - Cole (57), Cox (78)

Carlisle United - Butterworth (86)

+++++++

Bookings

Exeter City - Harris (5), Jules (67), Wildschut (90), Scott (90+7)

Carlisle United - Neal (64)

+++++++

Teams

Exeter City - Sinisalo, Jules (Niskanen 74), Hartridge, Carroll (Taylor 78), Cole, Cox (Wildschut 78), Harris, Rankine (Scott 87), Sweeney, Aitchison, Diabate. Subs: MacDonald, Borges

Carlisle United - Breeze, Lavelle, Gibson (McCalmont 61), Charters (Garner 74), Whelan, Robinson (Armer 61), Mellish, Maguire (Butterworth 61), Emmanuel (McGeouch 85), Neal, Armstrong. Subs: Holy, Edmondson