A relatively slow start to the game saw the first real chance come after 11 minutes when Richard Keogh's ball into the box eventually found the feet of Kavanagh, the United player-coach though pulling a shot well wide of the target. Harte then sent a free-kick past the woodwork for Carlisle before Charlton pantomine villain Nicky Bailey hit a set-piece into the United wall, Thierry Racon then shooting wide from the rebound.
Matty Robson then dragged an effort off-target for the Cumbrians, before Bailey made a good run forward only to eventually lift a curling shot over the top. Just after the half-hour mark Scott Dobie's powderpuff one-on-one effort was easily saved by Addicks debutant Carl Ikeme, the Wolves-loanee returning to a Brunton Park where he had once put in a disastrous performance when losing 6-0 with Stockport.
In the 37th minute Christian Dailly dragged Dobie to the floor 22 yards out, Dailly escaping a red card for the foul, Harte stepping up to take the set-piece only to see it ping away off the inside of the near-post. Four minutes later and United were denied what looked a clear penalty when Danny Livesey seemed to be held down by Sam Sodje.
A corner then came in though and referee Mark Haywood did the classic even-up job by awarding a Carlisle penalty for a non-existent foul in the box, Harte's spot-kick being brilliantly tipped onto the post by Ikeme only for Harte to just be able to bundle home the rebound. Phil Parkinson being sent to the stands for complaining to the fourth offical vehemently about the decision.
The Addicks did find an equaliser just before the break though with their own spot-kick, Kavanagh 60 seconds after making a poor challenge, doing another one on Burton on the edge of the Carlisle box after a Lloyd Sam pass forward. Burton stepping up to take the penalty himself and dispatch it past Pidgeley despite the United goalkeeper diving the right way. Burton again involved moments before the interval when he sliced a shot wide.
Charlton started well after half-time and Sam's angled drive was hacked away by Harte before Sodje rose like a salmon, like he did all afternoon, to head a Bailey free-kick across goal and inches wide of the far-post. Pidgeley though having something to do after 52 minutes when he was able to easily save a 22-yard Kelly Youga effort.
Bang on the hour-mark and Keogh stuck in a fantastic cross from the right flank which Vincent Pericard was only able to head over the top from close range. Kavanagh then three minutes later regaining the lead for the Cumbrians when he picked up on a poor pass by Elliot Omosuzi and thumped a low shot from distance into the far corner beyond the dive of Ikeme.
Carlisle were having a good spell in the match now and Tom Taiwo shot wide of the target before Charlton made a triple substitution to try to get back into the game. Dailly then doing well to block an effort from Matty Robson before play swung up the other end and Racon had a shot tipped expertly wide by Pidgeley after the Frenchman had made a good run forward.
Pidgeley then easily held a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick before Graham Kavanagh made sure of all three points for United with a tremendous strike in the 83rd minute. The Dubliner picking up on a Dobie knockdown to curl a 25-yarder past Ikeme and into the far top corner of the net. The last chance of the game coming in injury time when Burton shot over the top for a defeated and disappointing Charlton side.