Carlisle, who like Brentford with a lump of new summer signings in their starting eleven, began the game playing in the diamond formation once again, had the opening chance in the fourth minute when James Berrett's cross in from a short corner was headed onto the face of the crossbar by James Chester. Berrett then shooting over the top moments later.
United were well on top early on and after six minutes Francois Zoko's poor scuffed shot fell straight to Craig Curran, his close range shot though being well blocked by Bees goalkeeper Simon Moore, before Curran then toe-poked the rebound against the base of the near-post. Brentford then having their first chance of the game with a Michael Spillane free-kick from distance that only flew straight into the Carlisle wall.
Madine made it 1-0 to United in the 22nd minute though with Zoko and Berrett involved in setting up Sean McDaid for a cross into the box which somehow found its way through to a surprised Madine eight yards out. Madine managing to take a quick touch before knocking it past an advancing Moore and into the net, while the Brentford players were left vehemently claiming for a handball in the move.
The Bees tried to respond to that setback early but Nicky Forster could only head straight at Adam Collin from a Craig Woodman cross. Collin then saving from a Gary Alexander header on the back of Woodman's corner in with 42 minutes on the clock. Carlisle then coming back sixty seconds later when Zoko set up Tom Taiwo for a shooting opportunity that the United midfielder sliced well high and wide of the far-post.
The Blues did double their half-time advantage just as we ticked into injury-time however as O'Connor gave away a needless penalty as he tripped Curran right on the edge of the box. Carlisle's top scorer from last season, in Harte, stepping up to take the spot-kick which he dispatched easily into the left-hand side of the Brentford goal as Moore dived the wrong way.
The visitors made a double change during the interval as Leon Legge and Spillane replaced David McCracken and Spillane respectively in their efforts to get back into the game but it was Carlisle, in front of a crowd of 5,913 which included 349 away fans, who got the first shot in early on when Berrett's 20-yarder from a Madine lay-off was well held by Moore.
Brentford then had a good little spell of pressure with the Blues defence forced to clear a couple of corners before one eventually broke to Simpson for an edge of the box half-volley that was well taken in by Collin. Moore though forced into action in the 56th minute as he had to save a rare shot from Paul Thirlwell following a left-wing cross by James Chester.
Two minutes later and Zoko took down a ball up to him from Harte well only to scuff a weak shot at Moore from the edge of the Bees box. Collin then had to make an excellent save for United after 61 minutes as Simpson made a nice run down the right before crossing in for Gary Alexander, the former Millwall striker though having his shot expertly pushed over the top by Collin.
The Bees then made their final substitution in the game when their top scorer from last season, in Charlie MacDonald, came on in place of the experienced Forster upfront. Berrett then had a shot deflected away from danger by Legge before Carlisle made their one and only change in the game as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson came on for Zoko in the attacking tip of the diamond.
Seconds later and Taiwo had a shot well blocked by the Brentford defence, before up at the other end in the 79th minute a right-wing cross from MacDonald saw a stretching Alexander head over the top of the Cumbrians crossbar. The Bees then dropping down to ten men with two minutes to go when Myles Weston, who had been struggling for a while with a groin injury, limped off the field.
United just missing the chance to make the final scoreline 3-0 in last minute of the match when Curran cut a pass back from the right by-line for Berrett, the ex-Huddersfield man though seeing his first time 15-yard curler ping down and away off the underneath of Moore's crossbar. The whistle to end proceedings coming a couple of minutes later as United gained revenge for their opening day defeat against the Bees last season.