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Gary Madine being away on first-team duty meant a start for Ged Dalton as he partnered Andy Cook upfront on yet another cold and windy day up at the Sheepmount. A game that often saw passes disappear into the distance in the squally conditions would mean that the first chance came as late as the eighth minute when Dalton crossed in low from the left, with Cook, trying to work space for a shot, being rapidly crowded out by the Latics defence.
That was as good as it got for Carlisle though when Wigan took the lead three minutes later. A deep ball in from the right seeing the big centre-half, who had stayed up from an earlier attack, heading into the back of the United net from 12 yards out, via the inside of the near-post, as Alex Mitchell scrambled across his line to try to make the save.
After 13 minutes Dalton made a tricky run forward as he laid the ball off to Matthew Wood just outside the Wigan 'D', Wood's left-footed drive slicing away wide of the target with the wind behind it. Four minutes later Cook made a good tackle in the left-hand channel, but, in the story of the game, he was quickly closed down as he shot from 15 yards out and his right-footer was deflected straight into the arms of the Latics goalkeeper.
The Wigan left-winger showed a good touch sixty seconds later as he set himself up for a shot just outside the Carlisle box. His well-hit drive on his stronger foot forcing Mitchell into an excellent full length one-handed save at his far-post. Matt Duffy completing the clearance as the Blues looked to get the ball away from danger.
23 minutes gone and the Latics centre-half doubled his tally and his side's lead. The defender, up for a 40-yard free-kick, picking up on a loose ball dropping to him, and curling a lovely right-footed effort from 15 yards out beyond the reach of Mitchell and into the far top corner of the Carlisle net.
Just before the half-hour mark, after some good work by Dalton, Cook once more saw his right-footed shot from just inside the box closed down sharply and deflected for an easy save for the visiting goalkeeper. Wigan were soon back at it though and in the 32nd minute Mitchell did very well to tip a pacey 15-yarder over his crossbar before the big centre-half was looking for his hat-trick only to head the corner over the top from close range.
Ten minutes before the break Blues right-back Matthew Brown tried his luck from distance but his fierce right-footed shot drifted away well wide of the target. The rest of the half seeing little happen as both sides battled away for the ball in midfield as the wintry weather and a bobbly pitch began to dictate proceedings even more.
With the wind at their backs now the Latics started the second period brightly as they looked to keep the ball on the floor as much as possible. The 48th minute seeing Brown make a fantastic diving block on a 15-yard shot before Mitchell was once more forced into a good save from a similar distance when a Wigan player was first to the rebound.
That strong wind, and some dodgy defending, saw the visitors make it 3-0 on 53 minutes. A huge goal-kick flying over the head of Tom Aldred before a Wigan striker chased it down in behind and managed to nick the ball just between the legs of Mitchell outside the Carlisle penalty area. The rest of the task being easy as he was able to run the ball home into an empty net.
On the hour-mark both sides made a substitution, the United change seeing John Seaton come on for Dalton, the move meaning Stephen Hindmarch went upfront and Seaton slotted into Hindmarch's spot on the right flank. Wigan showed some nice stuff going forward after 67 minutes only for the shooting opportunity to be wasted as a 15-yard effort disappeared well over Mitchell's crossbar.
The break in the play seeing Simon Lakeland come on as a direct replacement for Wood in the centre of the Carlisle midfield. Wigan made their own change five minutes later and then in the 74th minute Lakeland had his first bit of action when, from a Latics clearance, he sent a 25-yard volley, on his right foot, well wide of the target.
Mitchell was able to save easily from distance just moments later then with 78 minutes gone Blues boss Eric Kinder made his third and final change of the game. Michael Dowson coming on for Brown, the switch in personnel seeing Dowson replace Jonny Blake in central midfield as Blake dropped into Brown's vacant right-back spot.
Wigan made another substitution with seven minutes to go as the game started to peter out with the ball often off the pitch, and the final shot of the match came in the 88th minute when Connor Tinnion's left-footed 20-yarder deflected off a Latics defender yet again as it dribbled into the possession of the visitors goalkeeper.
Three minutes of injury time surprisingly appeared with the final whistle coming on a contest in which United had played a little disappointingly but Wigan had also put in an impressive performance. The Carlisle youngsters have little time to dwell on the defeat though as they look to preserve their unbeaten home record in the league when they face Chester City at the Sheepmount on Monday afternoon in a 2pm kick-off.
United line-up :
Alex Mitchell, Matthew Brown (Michael Dowson 78), Matt Duffy, Dan Wordsworth (c), Tom Aldred, Jonny Blake, Matthew Wood (Simon Lakeland 67), Stephen Hindmarch, Andy Cook, Ged Dalton (John Seaton 61), Connor Tinnion.
Unused substitute :
John Jamieson (GK).
Fixtures in the division on Saturday morning :
Accrington Stanley v Tranmere
Blackpool v Walsall
Bury v Wrexham
Morecambe v Macclesfield
Port Vale v Oldham
Preston North End v Shrewsbury
Rochdale v Stockport
Carlisle United v Chester (Monday, 2pm)
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