Oldham 0 - 0 United

Carlisle kept possession well as they settled into the game and a prolonged period with the ball earned them a throw as Joyce tried to release Grainger. It was launched long into the box and Burgess had to clear from a Raynes flick as Miller lurked. Devitt picked it up 23-yards out but his shot was blocked.

Oldham responded with a quick break and Ladapo did well to shield it with his back to goal. He spun his marker and thrashed a powerful effort over the bar.

A measured pass from from Devitt sent Lambe on the sprint and a touch with his toe took him past the now stranded Chris Kettings. Shaun Miller asked for the pull back but Wilson stepped across to block what appeared to be a certain goal.

Captain Danny Grainger masterminded an intelligent set piece routine, as United remained on top, and Brisley connected on the jump just eight yards out. His header had power but he couldn't keep it down.

Another clever corner delivery caused more problems as the visitors camped forward and Devitt held his position before he clipped a neat ball to the back stick. Brisley bullied his way onto it but once more shaved the top of the woodwork. 

All of the good early work was undone on 16 minutes when Ladapo twisted deep inside the Carlisle half and spotted McKay in space. A drop of the shoulder from the striker opened a path and he left Crocombe with no chance as he swept his low shot into the bottom corner.

The home lead was wiped out just two minutes later when Devitt curled a beauty of a corner delivery into the box. Defender Michael Raynes stayed strong and shrugged off two challengers before he bundled the ball over the line.

The equaliser lifted an already buoyant set of visitors and they took the lead when Devitt dropped a fantastic defence splitting pass into Shaun Miller's path. He held play up and then put Reggie Lambe into a shooting position. The Bermudan international made it three for the season with an unstoppable shot.

Carlisle gave themselves a cushion midway through the half when a cross to the back post was recovered by Shaun Miller. His volley flew back across the face of goal and Burgess was stopped in his tracks as it ricocheted off his thigh and bounced into his own net. 

Oldham had a goal chalked off for offside as Ladapo went clean through a fraction too early, and Shaun Miller almost made something of a weak back pass at the other end when he beat Kettings to the touch. It suddenly opened up for him but he lost his footing and the moment was gone.

More wonderful football followed from the visitors and they switched play from left to right without allowing their opponents to get anywhere near the ball. It eventually came to Devitt and he had Kettings scrambling as he bent one just past the upright.

Substitute Darius Osei immediately made things interesting with just three minutes on the second half clock when he timed his run to meet a neat through ball just outside the area. He controlled it well and slid it expertly under the advancing Max Crocombe.

And the nippy forward scored his second goal in under 90 seconds to level the scores when Ladapo and McKay combined to turn a loose ball into a dangerous situation. The cross left the supersub with the simple tasking of sliding it into the vacant net.

Latics tails were up and they went close to reclaiming the lead when a mix up at the back allowed Ladapo to find Flynn. The wide man opted to try to place his shot but it bent just past the target.

A cross from Grainger suggested that United had shrugged off their sluggish start and Burgess was pleased to be able to clear it before Wyke could pounce. 

But it was Oldham who took the lead again on 66 minutes when Banks kept calm as his 24-yard fee kick bounced back off the wall. He took a touch to set himself and caught it right on the sweet spot with a looping volley which pinged into the net off the inside of the post.

Another slick Oldham free kick routine ended with a drilled effort over the bar from Flynn but Carlisle showed they weren't out of it when Shaun Miller shot across the face of goal. The clearance fell to Joyce but he was off balance and he couldn't keep it down.

Reggie Lambe forced Kettings into a save at a tight angle but the stopper could do nothing about it when Raynes headed one from deep for the far corner. A parry pushed it onto Tom Miller's boot and he had the time and composure to pick his spot.

Newcastle loanee Macaulay Gillesphey received a straight red card when he pulled Osei back as the nippy striker went clean through late in the day, but it was United who grabbed the win when Devitt swung the ball into the box in the final minute. Raynes was credited with the goal as he played his part in helping to get it across the line. Striker Charlie Wyke later placed a further claim on the decisive touch.

Oldham had a late free kick rattle back off the woodwork, and Crocombe tipped the recovered shot over the bar, but United survived to take their win from what was an unbelievable game to watch.

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Goals

Oldham Athletic - McKay (16), Osei (47 & 49), Banks (66)

Carlisle United - Raynes (18 & 89), Lambe (22), Burgess (og 28), T Miller (74)

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Bookings

Oldham Athletic - Woodland (37), Banks (59)

Carlisle United - T Miller (71)

Sent off - Gillesphey (72)

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Teams

Oldham Athletic - Kettings, Wilson, Burgess, Flynn, Banks, McKay (Winchester 75), Ladapo, Edmundson, Woodland (Croft 46), McLaughlin (Osei 46), Dunne. Subs - Ripley, Mantack, Stott, Fane.

Carlisle United - Crocombe, Raynes, Gillesphey, Brisley (Wyke 52), T Miller, Joyce, Jones (Penn 90), Grainger, Devitt, Lambe, S Miller (Brough 76). Subs - Gillespie, Atkinson, Ellis, McKee.

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Referee - Mr Peter Bankes

Attendance - 1,897 (away fans tbc)