Carlisle Utd 3 Cheltenham Town 0: Carlisle United eased to a comfortable 3-0 win against Cheltenham to make it three victories in a row.

Harry Pell's own-goal and a Reggie Lambe header saw Keith Curle's side establish an early lead at Brunton Park.

Man-of-the-match Tom Miller then wrapped up the points with a fine effort on the hour mark.

It saw Curle's men chalk up their first home victory of 2017/18 at the second attempt, in front of a 4,497 crowd.

As well as a first clean-sheet of the campaign, it was also their first victory by a three-goal margin since November 26 last year when they beat Mansfield 5-2.

The Blues took just five minutes to open the scoring, as Danny Grainger's fifth-minute corner was attacked by Tom Miller and Pell, facing his own goal, could only turn it high into his own net.

Lambe almost added a quick second but saw his low shot saved by Jonathan Flatt.

But the Bermudan was on target in the 18th minute when he attacked a Grainger cross and saw his header beat Flatt as it found the bottom right corner of the net.

United could have added more goals in the first half, especially in the 32nd minute when a heroic close-range block denied Nicky Adams and strikers Shaun Miller and Richie Bennett couldn't convert as the ball broke.

Tom Miller also headed over from close range as United applied serious pressure on Gary Johnson's side.

The visitors enjoyed some decent spells without extending United keeper Jack Bonham much.

Nigel Atangana sent a shot down the No1's throat, while Bonham got down to hold a low Pell drive.

Timely interceptions from Miller and Mark Ellis prevented Mohamed Eisa from going through on goal, with Tom Parkes also nodding away a dangerous Jordan Cranston cross.

Shaun Miller almost grabbed a third early in the second half but his low shot was deflected behind.

His namesake then made the points safe, firing into the top corner from the edge of the box after Tom Parkes kept a free-kick alive at the Warwick Road End.

For Cheltenham, Atangana volleyed wide as the visitors failed to find any way back.

There was a further boost for the Cumbrians who had fit-again Jason Kennedy back in the squad.

The midfielder was an unused sub on his return from the injury that kept him out for most of pre-season.

In the starting line-up, meanwhile, Gary Liddle and Hallam Hope made way for Mike Jones and Shaun Miller, while Bennett made his first home start.

United, now fifth in the fledgling League Two table, host Sunderland on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.

United: Bonham, T Miller, Grainger, Ellis, Parkes, Joyce, Jones (Liddle 83), Adams (Devitt 71), Lambe, Bennett (Hope 71), S Miller. Not used: George, Kennedy, Cosgrove, Egan.

Cheltenham: Flatt, Grimes, Cranston, Forster, Storer, Atangana, Pell (Dawson 65), Winchester (Graham 58), Boyle (Bower 85), Eisa, Wright. Not used: Lovett, O'Shaughnessy, Holman.