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This time Chris Howarth played the full 90 minutes in goal, and there was also a starting place for an 18-year old trialist at right-back, that being former Fulham trainee Tyrone Cameron. Danny Graham and Darren Campion were included after returning from injury, Graham being partnered upfront in a 4-4-2 formation by Scott Dobie.
John Murphy and Kevin Ellison went close in the opening stages of the first-half for the home side but it was United who took the lead in the 37th minute. Dobie, sent clear down the middle by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, finishing crisply past City goalkeeper John Danby with his right boot.
The lead didn't last long though as Chester levelled matters just two minutes later. Ellison, after being fouled just outside the United box, dusting himself down before firing a low drive into the left-hand corner of the Carlisle net, despite Howarth managing to get his fingertips on the powerful effort.
Chances were a bit more few and far between for both sides after the break as plentiful substitutions for both sides broke up the pattern of the play. United though started to get the upper hand in the latter stages as their greater strength in depth off the bench began to show on the pitch.
Two of those replacements for the Cumbrians sealing the win for Carlisle, after both Danny's Livesey and Carlton had gone close moments before. Firstly Gary Madine, in the 82nd minute, getting on the end of a cross in from the right by Luke Joyce to flick a header in at the near-post, that coming after young Madine had seen another header tipped over by Danby sixty seconds earlier.
Simon Hackney then making sure of the victory three minutes from time when he capitalised on a mix-up between Paul Butler and Danby. The dithering from the two Chester players allowing the United winger to nip in and roll the ball home into an empty City net.
So, given the way the game went, a two-goal margin of victory was perhaps a little flattering to Carlisle, but at this time of year it's all about getting those fitness levels up. And they will certainly be tested to the full in United's next two tough looking friendlies, at home to Preston on Saturday then once more at Brunton Park against Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Chester line-up :
John Danby, Kevin Roberts, Paul Butler, Paul Linwood, Laurence Wilson (Paul McManus 77), Damien Mozika, Tony Dinning (Stephen Vaughan 64), Anthony Barry (Mark Hughes 64), Richie Patridge (Ryan Lowe 46), John Murphy (Shaun Kelly 69), Kevin Ellison.
Unused substitutes :
Chris Sanna (GK), Jay Harris, Trevor Benjamin, Paul Taylor, Andrew Mitchell.
United line-up :
Chris Howarth, Darren Campion (Evan Horwood 60), Danny Livesey, Josh Gowling, Tyrone Cameron (David Raven 60), Jeff Smith (Simon Hackney 60), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Paul Thirlwell (Grant Smith 65), Cleveland Taylor (Luke Joyce 80), Scott Dobie (Danny Carlton 60), Danny Graham (Gary Madine 75).
Unused substitutes :
Ben Williams (GK), Peter Murphy and Kevin Gall.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick )Preston).
Attendance: 611 (115 Carlisle).