MATCH REPORT: Carlisle United 2-0 Cheltenham Town

Steven Pressley made a perfect start to his reign at Brunton Park as Carlisle soundly got back to winning ways.

A struggling Cheltenham side were undone by a superb Jamie Devit performance, with a well-worked goal and assist for teammate Hallam Hope making the difference.

Pressley was without the injured Gary Liddle, so namesake and fellow Scotsman Miller made his first start of the calendar year. Michael Duff made three changes, including a debut for Oxford United loanee Charlie Raglan.

An attritional first half saw both sides have chances but lack a quality final pass to break the deadlock.

The stalemate was a fair outcome at the interval as goalkeepers Adam Collin and Scott Flinders were called into action numerous times to make simple stops.

That deadlock was broken within four minutes as a lovely passage of Carlisle play resulted in Sheffield United loanee Regan Slater pulling the ball back across goal to Devitt, who poked home on the turn in fine fashion, as the ball hit the far post on its way in as the Irishman (struggling with a knock) spun to the ground – cue a pile on.

Seven minutes later, Devitt was involved in another goal. After pinching the ball from the Cheltenham back line, the play-maker slotted Hope through on goal to coolly finish.

As the game entered crunch time, Robins substitute Jacob Maddox forced a strong save from Collin – just minutes after the Cumbrian stopper almost fumbled a low cross into his own goal in an otherwise solid performance yet again.

The away team almost pulled one back when top scorer Luke Varney went for power over placement after beating home centre back Anthony Gerrard in the penalty area – meaning the ball sailed over.

No real chances came in the latter stages other than Hope slashing across goal prior to the final whistle along with Slater – most prominently failing to convert a goalmouth scramble, as Cheltenham sunk to a third successive league defeat while Carlisle got back their swagger back as they rose to 4th place.

A tough match against Macclesfield Town at Whaddon Road is up next for the visitors; meanwhile, the hosts travel to Port Vale next weekend.

Attendance: 4,458 (110)

Home star man: Jamie Devitt

Away star man: Charlie Raglan

Referee: Mark Boyeson

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent