Athletic won at home for the first time since Valentine's Day, with an impressive performance against Carlisle.

However it could have all been very different for the home side, when after just 5 minutes Dean Brill rescued Athletic.

A hoofed clearance from Raven was dummied over Reuben Hazell's head by Offiong and Scott Dobie raced clear.

One-on-One with the Latics keeper he shot hard and low across the goal, but Brill was equal to it, making an outstanding one handed save, low to his right.

The save seemed to inspire the Athletic 'keeper, who was subject to abuse from some quarters in the home defeat to Hartlepool, and he went on to have his best game in a Latics shirt.

Thanks to Brills heroics Athletic were able to open the scoring on 13 minutes, when Dean Furman's cross field ball was well controlled by the influential Chris Taylor.

It was clear to see that Taylor, whilst still looking to find full match fitness, was back to his best for Athletic, and he found Sheehan cutting inside him on the left.

The Irishman played a neat one-two with Keigan Parker and raced free into the area, and as Pidgeley looked to close the angle Sheehan unselfishly found Athletic's Player of the Month, Pawel Abbott, on the edge of the six yard box, the striker making no mistake from close range.

(Danny Whitaker congratulates Alan Sheehan for setting up Pawel Abbott's goal)

Dean Brill saved Athletic for a second time, on 28 minutes, after a bullet header from Man of the Match Sheehan almost beat his own 'keeper.

Sheehan had met a cross from the Carlisle left on the edge of his six yard box, under pressure from Hurst, and mistakenly fired it on goal.

Thankfully for Athletic, Brill made an excellent reaction save to parry the ball clear.

Scott Dobie was again the only threat from Carlisle, when on 37 minutes his pace afforded him space in the Athletic area, and he cannoned a shot off the Latics upright.

Despite the scare Latics deservedly doubled their advantage 7 minutes into the second half, with some lovely flowing football.

A ball into Abbott from Joe Colbeck was well distributed by the front man, finding Taylor on the opposite flank.

The tricky winger dropped a shoulder to create space on his left, into which Alan Sheehan raced, his expertly placed cross found Parker a yard out and he made no mistake in sliding the ball home.

(Keigan Parker peels away to celebrate Athletic's second)

The goal took the voice out of the Carlisle following, an impressive 791 of a 4,268 crowd, but galvanised the Latics faithful.

Taylor again reminded everyone why he is so highly rated on 74 minutes, with some outstanding footwork to beat two men at one time, on the edge of the Carlisle area, before unleashing a low shot which Pidgeley forced wide.

Taylor then met Sheehan's corner with a header, which passed just wide of the United goal.

Carlisle continued to probe the Athletic back line, but a great team performance got the clean sheet it deserved without the visitors creating any clear cut chances.

Boss Dave Penney was delighted to have "the monkey off our backs" and Latics Player subscribers can see a full post match press conference with him, online shortly.