The home side were putting on early pressure and Chris Taylor was unluckty when his header was punched clear by Pidgeley in the Carlisle goals. They found a breakthrough in the 13th. minute when Taylor found Alan Sheehan who laid the ball on a plate for a grateful Pawel Abbott who fired the ball home from six yards. Athletic had a penalty appeal turned down when it appeared that Murphy had handled the ball in the penalty area.
Another great save by Brill on the half hour again gave Athletic confidence enough to thbink that it might be the day to get back on the home winning trail. Carlisle hit the upright ten minutes from the end of the first half and then the Latics almost got another on the stroke of half time but Sheehan's free kick just eluded Hazell who was lurking at the back post. Abbott almost stole another goal in time added on but his 40 yard rocket was pushed away for a corner.
The Latics doubled their lead in the 52nd. minute after a Taylor cross found Kiegan Parker who poked the ball home. Carlisle took the initiative for a short spell but a Sheehan free kick was deflected off the wall and it seemed to silence the travelling fans who realised that it just wasn't going to be their day. Taylor almost got a third goal with a header from Sheehan's corner but it was narrowly wide but the home side held on in fine fashion to send their long suffering fans away from Boundary Park with smiles on their faces, and with a renewed vigour that might be become a pivotal point in the season.
Below are Boundary Blue's assessment of the Latics player performances:
Dean Brill - 8 - Solid game. Probably saved us from defeat as had we gone one down in our fragile state it probably would've been curtains
Reuben Hazell - 7 - Very jittery first half moments but settled and did enough
Danny Whitaker - 6 - Decent enough, kept us ticking over but looked more threatening through flanks than through using Whits
Pawel Abbott - 8 - Excellent game... held it up superbly... held every man off him... pain in the backside and netted
Kelvin Lomax - 7 - I'm a big fan of Lomax...most underrated player at club. Doesn't mean I think he's a world beater but he's solid and that's exactly what we've missed
Dean Furman - 7 - Good enough...looked to play it forward fast every time... does overcook the pass at times though
Sean Gregan - 7 - Usual stuff. But more solid today and found more blue shirts. Improved.
Keigan Parker - 7 - Ran for everything...got a goal...pushed them back with his attacking...industrious
Chris Taylor - 6 - Quiet in first half...looked eager but couldn't influence...better in the second half and linked nicely with Sheehan
Joe Colbeck - 6 - Wanted to get forward at every chance... also willing to muck in in defence when required
Alan Sheehan - 9 - Outstanding... everything I want in a L.B. Can defend, stopped them nicking one back in the second half and got a whack in the mouth for it. Set up two... the first was excellent... thought he'd shoot but he saw the little slide pass. Only negative was the header which Brill saved his blushes on.
Kieran Lee & Ryan Brooke - Little chance to do much