In an entertaining, incident packed game, which ebbed and flowed for the full 90 minutes, substitute Will McDonagh gave the Cumbrians the points with an 85th minute strike.

The win was all the more remarkable considering the lack of preseason preparation, with many of the players only just aware of each others names.

Carlisle had only one away win last season and to record an away win at the first attempt left manager Roddy Collins in a jubilant mood.

After the game he said: "I said to the boys in the dressing room, you got the result because you deserved it. We got a bit of luck when we needed it but when you are pressing away from home you are going to leave gaps at the back.

"They are a young side and enjoying themselves and showing great strength and will- power. There were 11 man-of-the-match performances out there and we played as a team."

On a humid night at Roots Hall, Southend were first to show when a Kevin Maher corner was headed over by Graeme Jones on 13 minutes.

John Burns on his Carlisle debut then had a great chance to open the scoring but shot high and wide when the ball broke loose in the box. Maher then forced Peter Keen into a full-length save from 25 yards.

On 24 minutes Neil Jenkins should have put the home side in front when Damon Searle played him in but he failed to control ball when clear and the chance was gone.

With Carlisle seeing plenty of possession a Mick Galloway cross was headed over by Richie Foran.

Ryan Baldacchino was posing plenty of problems down the right side of the Southend defence and he was unlucky to see a goalbound effort blocked by Leon Cort.

A weak Keen punch then fell to Jenkins on the edge of the box but he blazed high over the bar when a little more composure could have resulted in a Southend goal.

As Carlisle continued to push forward Galloway's 20 yard effort was saved by Darryl Flahaven and Lee Maddison should have done better than shoot wide after a surging run through the middle.

In first-half injury time, the best move of the match should have brought a goal for Southend but Damon Searle shot over after playing a lovely one-two with Rawle.

With 58 minutes gone substitute Brian Wake almost snatched the lead for Cumbrians when his header flew narrowly wide from Galloway's cross.

Selley then curled a shot wide for Southend and Rawle headed over from a Clark cross.

Keen then pulled off a stunning save to foil Cort on 72 minutes before play swung to the other end with a Wake header from a Baldacchino cross brilliantly turned away by Flahaven.

With Baldacchino terrorising the Southend defence, the goal came on 85 minutes courtesy of another surging run and cross from the diminutive winger that found McDonagh at the back post to volley home.

The Carlisle goal had a charmed life in the final minutes as Rawle went close twice heading wide with an open goal beckoning and forcing Keen into another spectacular save.

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