It has been a long time in coming but Cheltenham Town are finally able to celebrate a win this season after Carlisle were despatched 2-0 at Whaddon Road.
Both sides were without a win from six matches going into the game but the result, plus a win for Exeter City over Oxford United, sent Carlisle to the bottom of the League while easing Cheltenham's jitters.
In a season when so much of the fortune has gone against Cheltenham, it was reassuring to see a piece of luck go their way in the build-up to the opening goal in the 16th minute.
Russell Milton exchanged passes with Jamie Victory and the Cheltenham left-back charged into the box. He lost the ball in attempting a square pass but midfielder David Morley promptly gave it back to him by laying off an ill-advised back-pass.
Victory continued his run and beat stranded goalkeeper Luke Weaver with a low shot. It was a personal triumph for the popular defender as the goal was his first since returning from the knee injury that forced him to miss most of last season.
Earlier, Carlisle had gone close to opening the scoring when Morley flashed a shot just wide but the Cumbrians went on to fashion only two more shots at goal in the remainder of the match.
Carlisle have endured a difficult time in the last few seasons with more than one narrow brush against relegation. New manager Roddy Collins is currently in the business of re-building a side which on this occasion offered little going forward but proved stubborn and difficult to break down in defence.
An 18-yard shot From Russell Milton was the only other chance of note in a drab first half, but Cheltenham suddenly found another gear around the hour mark. Victory forced Weaver to make a block from a fierce shot before driving another effort only inches over the crossbar.
Only moments later Tony Naylor, who showed that his fitness and sharpness is beginning to return with some lovely touches around the area, turned sharply just inside the box and went to ground under a challenge from Lee Andrews. Referee Joe Ross pointed to the spot, both Andrews and Richie Foran were booked for their protests but Neil Grayson fired in the spot kick to register his first league goal of the campaign.
Cheltenham could have added further goals when Martin Devaney had a shot saved by Weaver, substitute Brendan McGill headed off the line from Mark Yates and then, with two minutes left, Yates headed straight at Weaver from a Milton corner.
With three away games now in prospect this was a welcome win for the Robins, whose team featured a return to action for goalkeeper Steve Book, in place of Carl Muggleton, and Richard Walker alongside Chris Banks instead of Keith Hill. Both Hill and Muggleton have already shown that they will be capable performers in the coming months but with Book and Walker in the team it was a return to familiarity and the players who have served the team so well since promotion to the Football League was gained.
Carlisle may not be the best side in the League but they have proved difficult to beat this season and a 2-0 win is a good, if somewhat belated, start.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book; M. Duff, Banks, Walker, Victory; Devaney (Hill 90), Yates, Howells, Milton; Naylor (Alsop 89), Grayson (Brough 89). Other subs: Howarth, Muggleton.
CARLISLE UNITED: Weaver; Birch (Hews 69), Andrews, Whitehead, Murphy, Maddison (McGill 49); Elliott (Hore 58), Morley, Berkley; Halliday, Foran. Other subs: Keen, Dickinson.
REFEREE: J.J. Ross (London)
ATTENDANCE: 3,081