GOALS from Kadeen Harris and Luke Armstrong helped Carlisle United secure a vital three points and under pressure Mike Williamson's first victory at Brunton Park as Blues boss.

Harris was Johnny on the spot to slam home Carlisle's opener in the 11th minute after some intricate play down the left-hand side involving Jon Mellish, Dominic Sadi, and Cameron Harper.

Armstrong would double Carlisle's lead early in the second half with a strike into an open goal after the ball broke kindly for the striker after a 50/50 between Harris and an on-rushing William Crellin.

Tyler Walton would pull one back for John Doolan's Stanley late in the second half to give the visitors a lifeline, however, this would prove to be just a consolation.

Carlisle United welcomed Stanley to Brunton Park for a clash that would bring to an end the worst calendar year in the club's history in terms of home wins which saw them win only twice on Warwick Road in the near 12 months before kick-off.

In a bid to end 2024 with three points, under pressure manager Mike Williamson made three changes to the Blues side that sunk to a 1-0 defeat against Morecambe on Boxing Day, with Harrison Biggins, Dan Adu-Adjei, and Kadeem Harris replacing Sam Lavelle, Harrison Neal, and Jack Ellis.

It was the visitors who had the first chance when a speculative long-range effort was fired towards goal but Gabe Breeze did well to palm the effort over the crossbar.

After a relatively slow start to the game Carlisle's first major chance of the game would result in the first goal after some intricate play between Harper, Sadi, and Mellish allowed the latter to put in a low cross from the left which was fired home by Harris.

Another quiet spell in which both sides traded possession followed Harris' opener but this was shattered when Dan Adu-Adjei looked to have fashioned a scoring chance in the 31st minute but his shot was blazed over the crossbar in the first real chance for either side since Carlisle's opener.

Three minutes later Accrington Stanley were almost the creators of their own downfall when a set piece from Biggins was headed behind and just wide of Crellin's near post by a fortunate defender.

In the 38th minute, Carlisle would go close again when a Biggins free-kick to the back post was met by Hayden who cushioned the ball back across goal for Harris but his header hit the crossbar and Adu-Adjei's follow-up effort was blocked.

Moments later it was Armstrong who went close when he met a Sadi cross from the left but sent his header looping just over the crossbar.

On the stroke of half time, it was the visitors who posed the biggest threat and almost netted an equaliser, first through Zach Awe who saw his header from close range bounce just over, and seconds later Whalley crashed a powerful effort from range against Breeze's crossbar.

Four minutes after the restart Carlisle had a golden opportunity to double their lead when Harris went through one-on-one with Crellin but blasted his eventual shot over the bar.

On 55 minutes, Carlisle would double their lead when Harris got on the end of a slack back pass but was challenged by an onrushing Crellin, with the ball deflecting kindly into the path of Armstrong who passed the ball into an open goal.

After doubling their lead Carlisle still had to beware of the threat posed by Stanley with the visitors throwing bodies forward in a bid to get back into the game and in the 73rd minute they would.

Tyler Walton was played through one-on-one with Gabe Breeze and made no mistake to half Stanley's deficit and give the visitors a lifeline.

However, despite this late resurgence and a flurry of crosses and long balls from the visitors Carlisle would hang on to an important three points at Brunton Park.

Carlisle United: Gabe Breeze, Cameron Harper, Aaron Hayden (Jack Ellis - 86'), Jordan Jones, Harrison Biggins, Dan Adu-Adjei, Jon Mellish, Dominic Sadi, Ben Barclay, Luke Armstrong, Kadeem Harris (Harrison Neal - 73')

Subs: Jude Smith, Taylor Charters, Anton Dudik, Jake Allan, Sam Hetherington

Yellow cards: Dominic Sadi, Dan Adu-Adjei, Gabe Breeze, Jordan Jones

Goals: Kadeem Harris, Luke Armstrong

Accrington Stanley: William Crellin, Donald Love, Zack Awe, Farrend Rawson (Josh Woods - 45'), Liam Coyle (Jimmy Knowles - 88'), Shaun Whalley, Ben Woods, Nelson Khumbeni (Dan Martin - 60'), Tyler Walton (Alex Henderson - 88'), Sonny Aljofree, Seamus Conneely (Ash Hunter - 45')

Subs: Michael Kelly, Anjola Popoola

Yellow cards: Ferrand Rawson, Nelson Khumbeni, Shaun Whalley, Tyler Walton, Ash Hunter

Goals: Tyler Walton

Referee: Thomas Parsons

Attendance: 7,130 (288)