Swindon Town 0-2 Carlisle United: Perfect start for Williamson

The new boss enjoyed a winning start against Swindon Town at the County Ground.

Lavelle forced the opener in the 42nd minute before Armstrong, on his first league start of the season, made it two with 18 minutes to go.

United duly kept Mark Kennedy's Robins at bay and a vocal 483-strong travelling support enjoyed only a second win of the campaign.

It proved a memorable first afternoon of the Williamson era as Carlisle soaked up plenty of first-half pressure before Lavelle got the decisive touch to convert a Cameron Harper corner.

Armstrong's shot, pushed against the post by home keeper Jack Bycroft, was then deemed to have crossed the line as Carlisle celebrated again in the second half.

Swindon's ex-United man Dan Butterworth hit the post against his former club but Carlisle kept out the hosts, Harry Lewis making a number of good saves as the Cumbrians under Williamson began with a clean sheet. They remain 22nd in League Two after seven games.

Sam Lavelle, second right, and his team-mates celebrate the opener (Image: Richard Parkes)

Williamson, who received a warm welcome from travelling fans in Wiltshire, named his first United XI which included two changes from the previous weekend's side.

The new boss handed starts to Ben Barclay and Armstrong, the latter getting his first league start of the campaign.

They came in for Aaron Hayden - who was out of the squad - and Dominic Sadi respectively.

Williamson was still without Terell Thomas, while there was a place on the bench for striker Anton Dudik.

Swindon boss Kennedy selected an unchanged side from their 4-0 win over Newport County, Butterworth in the XI to face his former club.

Williamson was joined by fellow new coaching arrivals Ian Watson, Chris Bell and Carl Magnay, along with academy manager and former caretaker Steven Rudd, as his reign got under way.

United began the game in the bottom two on goals scored, after fellow strugglers, Accrington Stanley drew 2-2 with Port Vale.

Their bid for a result to take them back out of the drop zone began with United starting with a back three of Barclay, Lavelle and Jon Mellish, with Armstrong and Jordan Jones supporting Charlie Wyke in attack.

The home side forced the early chances and came close to an opener in the early stages.

First, Kabongo Tshimanga got away from Mellish and was denied by Lewis, who was off his line to block the powerful shot.

Mike Williamson applauds the away support (Image: Richard Parkes)

Mellish's pass inside was then cut out by Paul Glatzel as Swindon set up another attack which ended with Joel Cotterill's shot being blocked by the Blues defence.

Another scare came on 12 minutes when Barclay, attempting a pass with the outside of his foot, misdirected it into the Blues box, and when Lewis handled it, ref Carl Brook penalised the keeper.

An indirect free-kick was awarded, seven yards from Carlisle's goal and with seven Blues players on the goalline, but when it was touched to George Cox, Lewis was quickly forward to make the save.

The game was then held up for about eight minutes because of an injury to assistant referee Ravel Cheosiaua, who eventually came off to be replaced by fourth official Conor Farrell.

When things resumed, Swindon remained very much on top and came close through Will Wright's 30-yard free-kick, which dipped just wide.

Carlisle's attempts to work the ball forward in a passing style led to little in terms of attacking threat in the opening stages, Armstrong denied by the offside flag as he ran onto Jones' pass.

Cameron Harper denied Jeff King with a block before United enjoyed a better spell on the ball, Dylan McGeouch and Harrison Biggins prompting a promising attack before Jones was tackled on the left.

Carlisle continued to try and be progressive with their passing but nothing in the way of goalscoring opportunities was resulting.

But then, late in the half, they got themselves in front, their best spell of possession eventually leading to a pair of corners.

From the second Harper delivery, Swindon struggled to clear and, with Armstrong in the mix, Lavelle was credited with the decisive touch for the first Blues goal under Williamson.

In ten added minutes at the end of the first half, there were then chances at both ends, Lewis saving a Cox free-kick and Glatzel and Butterworth both testing Carlisle, before Mellish headed a Jones cross wide from a good position.

Cox then hit the side-netting when played in by Tshimanga to the Swindon left as Carlisle reached the break ahead.

Luke Armstrong wheels away after scoring United’s second goal (Image: Richard Parkes)

Early in the second half Cox whipped a free-kick wide before Mellish and Lewis, consecutively, saw balls from the back charged down, Swindon unable to take advantage of their resulting opportunities.

Butterworth had a shot blocked as United remain ahead past the hour mark, before Williamson made his first changes, bringing on Sadi and Josh Vela for Jones.

Lavelle had a volley blocked from a corner - before Carlisle then doubled their lead.

Swindon again failed to deal with another United delivery into the box, which Mellish kept alive before Sadi's shot broke for Armstrong.

His shot across goal was pushed against the post by keeper Bycroft but the ball then crossed the line before the Swindon No1 could fall on it, substitute linesman Brook waving his flag to indicate the goal.

Home boss Kennedy made a double change, bringing on Aaron Drinan and Sean McGurk, Butterworth miscuing a shot as Swindon looked for a way back.

Williamson then introduced 17-year-old Freddie O'Donoghue for his second league appearance in the closing stages.

And Swindon almost got a way back in the 86th minute, but Butterworth's powerful shot from 25 yards cannoned off the right-hand post.

Butterworth then powered a volley over the bar in added time, then rifled wide again with the final touch as Carlisle closed out victory - to the sound of loud celebrations from their travelling supporters.

Swindon: Bycroft, Sobowale, Wright, Freckleton, Cotterill (McGurk 73), Kilkenny, King, Cox, Butterworth, Tshimanga, Glatzel (Drinan 73). Not used: Barden, Ofoborh, Cain, Mintum, Mitchell.

United: Lewis, Davies, Harper, Lavelle, Barclay, Mellish, McGeouch (Vela 69), Biggins, Jones (Sadi 69, Armstrong, Wyke (O’Donoghue 81). Not used: Breeze, Neal, Ellis, Dudik.

Goals: Lavelle 42, Armstrong 72.

Booked: Jones, Harper, Wyke.

Ref: Carl Brook.

Crowd: 6,878 (483 United fans).