MARK Harris opened his Oxford United account to give his side their first win of the season at home to Carlisle United.

His effort with quarter of an hour to go proved to be the difference in a game broadly dominated by the U’s.

Liam Manning made six changes to the side which lost 5-1 at Bristol City in the first round of the Carabao Cup, although one of them was forced as Stephan Negru came in for Jordan Thorniley, who picked up a knock in midweek.

Sam Long, Josh McEachran, Marcus Browne, Ruben Rodrigues and Harris were all restored to the starting line-up, as Fin Stevens, Marcus McGuane, Stanley Mills, Tyler Goodrham and Gatlin O’Donkor dropped to the bench.

The first half was light on goalmouth action, but glimpses of goal came United’s way early on.

Browne charged down the right-hand side with three minutes played, but he delayed playing the ball to a teammate when he got into the penalty area and had the ball stolen from his feet.

At the other end, the impressive Callum Guy sent a whizzing effort wide of the far post from 25 yards.

Just before the clock hit 20 minutes, McEachran released Billy Bodin with a brilliant reverse pass, however the U’s No 10 took too much time to get the ball out of his feet and his effort was blocked by the visitors.

Cameron Brannagan then clipped a ball over the top for Harris, who rounded Tomas Holy but was flagged offside.

Just before the half hour mark, Browne played the ball across the box however Harris was unable to stretch enough to get a toe on the ball from inside the six-yard box.

A U’s corner fell to Rodrigues on the edge of the area, who saw a deflected strike safely into the arms of Holy.

United continued to create half chances with Bodin’s through ball finding Harris, but Jon Mellish got a toe on the shot as Holy was able to claim the ball with ease.

Browne’s looping cross narrowly evaded the head of Bodin at the back post, before Negru got his body in the way of a thunderbolt from Guy.

United’s first shot on target came in the first minute of stoppage time when Brannagan’s low 20-yard shot was hit into the arms of Holy.

The U’s started brightly in the second period, with Harris intercepting a loose ball and charging upfield into the box, however his cutback for Rodrigues lacked quality and was intercepted.

A deep inswinging corner from McEachran was then headed wide at the back post by Bodin.

Moments later, Long carried the ball forward and found Bodin, who saw a bending right-footed effort curl narrowly wide.

Ryan Edmondson then saw a tame header land safely into the gloves of Beadle.

Manning made his first change on 67 minutes when Mills replaced Browne.

Not long after, the Everton loanee was unlucky not to find himself in on goal when he and Rodrigues led a breakaway, however the latter overcooked his pass and the opportunity went begging.

It wasn’t the first time during the afternoon that a U’s player put too much on his pass in a key area though, as sloppy passing in the final third killed possible openings.

Bodin then fired a free kick in a central area over the bar in what was his final action, as McGuane and Goodrham replaced the midfielder and Rodrigues.

Goodrham was involved straight away, playing a pass in behind for Harris, who delicately clipped the ball beyond Holy and inside the far post.

A rapid counter-attack saw Goodrham fizz a shot wide of the far post as the youngster added urgency into the United attack.

Brannagan then saw a low strike from outside the area bounce off the wet turf and into the gloves of Holy, as United held on for their first three points of the campaign.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Beadle; Long, Moore, Negru, Brown; Brannagan, McEachran; Browne (Mills 67), Rodrigues (McGuane 74), Bodin (Goodrham 74); Harris (O’Donkor 90+1).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Stevens, Smyth.

Booked: Harris, O’Donkor.

Carlisle United (3-5-2): Holy; Lavelle, Huntington (Garner 80), Mellish; Back, McCalmont, Guy (Harris 88), Charters, Armer; Edmondson (Plange 80), Gibson (Butterworth 70).

Unused subs: Whelan, Andresson, Barclay.

Booked: Guy, McCalmont, Back, Huntington, Mellish.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

Attendance: 7,964 (770 visitors).