Carlisle scored twice without reply but still lost. It wasn't United's but Bristol Rovers Wayne Carlisle who condemned the Cumbrians to their third straight league defeat.
Already under pressure boss Roddy Collins was barracked as his team left the pitch but he was optimistic about his team's chances saying: "I thought we created enough chances to get something out of the game. We were the better side by a mile until they got their first goal.
"The good thing is the players never stopped working for me. We created at least seven chances but the worry is that we are leaking goals. Last season, Darren Kelly and Paul Raven were rock solid at the back.
"We have had a clear-the-air meeting last night and I am happy enough with the outcome." Bristol Rovers assistant manager John Still was delighted.
"We scored two classy goals," he said. "The first was a terrific individual effort, but the second gave me more pleasure because it was a good team goal." A Raven foul on Paul Tait presented Rovers with their opener. A clever step over by Ijah Anderson saw Carlisle curl the ball over and around the United wall to nestle in Matty Glennon's top corner.
Two minutes before the break, Carlisle scored again after David Savage played a delightful through ball which split the United defence and Junior Agogo, swung in a byline cross for Carlisle, to slot home from two yards.
Carlisle started brightly with Paul Simpson orchestrating play. His first minute cross caused panic but Richie Foran could only find the side netting.
Craig Farrell latched on to another Simpson through ball but lashed his shot over the bar from the edge of the box in the 11th minute, and then operating wide on the right Farrell played Chris Billy through the middle but Simpson's weak shot was easy for Kevin Miller.
The keeper had to work harder in the second half. First he saved superbly from a powerful Richie Foran header in the 78th minute and then he blocked Brendan McGill's point-blank shot.
United's frustrations were summed up in the last minute of the game when Foran headed inches wide of the woodwork from a pinpoint Simpson cross.