Carlisle 1 - 0 Exeter City: Alex Gilliead clinches overdue victory for Carlisle

Teenage winger Alex Gilliead crowned an outstanding individual performance with the winning goal as Carlisle beat Exeter 1-0 at Brunton Park.

Gilliead, who has joined the Cumbrians on loan from Newcastle until the end of the season, grabbed the vital strike in the 77th minute to put Carlisle back on a winning path after they lost their previous two home games.

Exeter goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik was kept on his toes dealing with a succession of crosses from Gilliead during an even first half.

Gilliead, back from England Under-20s duty, caused endless trouble for the Grecians' defence with his pacey running and Charlie Wyke should have done better with a ball cut back from the by-line in the 19th minute.

The striker deliberated too long in controlling the cross and Bastien Hery, following up, lashed his shot wildly over the bar.

Exeter had their moments going forward and, after Mark Gillespie tipped over a 20-yard drive by Arron Davies, the Carlisle goalkeeper produced an even more timely save to deny Lee Holmes in the 32nd minute when the busy midfielder tried his luck from the edge of the area.

Carlisle dominated possession for long periods after the break and Olejnik was happy to beat away a long-range piledriver from Luke Joyce before scrambling Jason Kennedy's header away for a corner.

The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when substitute Derek Asamoah wriggled free on the left-hand side of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back to Gilliead, who coolly slotted the ball home with his right foot from 12 yards.

There was a scare for Carlisle in stoppage time when David Wheeler broke into the box, but he sliced his shot past the advancing Gillespie and wide of the right-hand post.