Dan Moss’ first goal for the club just before the break proved decisive, as the winning run was extended to six.
Jimmy McNulty made two changes from Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over Boreham Wood. Dan Moss and Aidan Barlow came in for Tarryn Allarakhia and Jake Burger, with Connor McBride returning to the squad.
Despite the first shot of the game coming from the visitors, when Alex Gilliead fired well over, Dale enjoyed almost all of the possession, with Carlisle happy to sit off, keep tight and allow the defence to have the ball.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell came close to getting on the end of some Dale set pieces, but it was an important challenge from Moss that prevented Harvey Macadam from getting a shot away at the other end.
Devante Rodney had a shot well blocked before Dale opened the scoring three minutes before the break.
Barlow’s free-kick from wide was sent all the way to the back post where Moss slid in, turning home from close range for his first Dale goal.
It was almost two just before the break, when Ebanks-Landell’s header dropped wide with the final act of the first 45.
After the interval, Rodney hit a free-kick over the bar and Ebanks-Landell headed over, whilst Oliver Whatmuff was called into action for the first time, collecting Macadam’s attempted lob.
Despite the slender advantage, Dale remained comfortable throughout the second period, and were inches away from adding a second in the final ten minutes. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling’s low ball almost fell for substitute Ian Henderson, but a vital touch from Carlisle goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze prevented the ball from reaching him.
Henderson then stole in between the defence and goalkeeper, but his chip fell agonisingly wide.
Some more strong and composed defending in five minutes of added time meant Dale extended their winning run to six, and stayed top of the Enterprise National League.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East (79’ Pettit), Ebanks-Landell ©, Gilmour, Dieseruvwe (79’ Henderson), Rodney (69’ Pritchard), Adebayo-Rowling, Barlow (88’ Hosannah), Moss, Perry.
Unused subs | Allarakhia, McBride, Duku.
Scorers | 41’ Moss.
Carlisle United XI | Breeze, Feeney ©, Ajiboye (85’ Wyke), Galvin, Embleton (85’ Parker), Ellis (71’ Conn-Clarke), Gilliead, Williams, Mugabi, Armstrong, Macadam.
Unused subs | Mair, Harper, Hayden, Wearne.
Attendance | 4,725 (1,325 away).
