MARK Harris netted a brace as Oxford United won a fiercely contested clash away at Carlisle United.

The former Cardiff City forward opened the scoring six minutes before the break, before adding to his tally two minutes into the second period.

Tyler Goodrham then handed the U’s a three-goal lead after 68 minutes, only for Alfie McCalmont to pull one back for the hosts three minutes later.

United though saw out the closing stages in a professional manner, to pick up a further three points in their hunt for promotion.

Des Buckingham made five changes to the side which exited the EFL Trophy in midweek, as out went Simon Eastwood, Jordan Thorniley, James Golding, Josh McEachran and James Henry.

Into the team came Jamie Cumming for his U’s debut, plus Elliott Moore, Ciaron Brown, Marcus McGuane and Ruben Rodrigues. Odense loanee Tyler Burey was named on the bench.

The opening exchanges of the first half saw precious little in the way of goalmouth action, with Harrison Neal letting fly from 25 yards and bringing a simple hold out of Cumming, while Dan Butterworth fired well over after a corner was headed away in his direction on the edge of the box.

Corey Whelan then crossed for Luke Armstrong midway through the half, however the home debutant sidefooted the ball into the gloves of Cumming.

Buckingham’s side were guilty of giving the ball away too easily in the centre of the pitch, and on one such occasion, McGuane was almost punished when McCalmont shrugged him out of the way, but couldn’t find Armstong with his through ball.

With eight minutes to go until the break, the U’s had their first sight of goal when Harris teed up the onrushing Rodrigues, who blazed over from close to the right corner of the penalty area.

Harris then shot from 20 yards out, with referee Jacob Miles deeming that it took a nick as it skimmed wide of the post.

The corner was swung in by Cameron Brannagan, with Moore nodding the ball back across the six-yard box, where Harris was able to get the killer touch.

United all of a sudden looked a much better side, as Goodrham came inside from the left and arrowed a strike, which was well held by Harry Lewis.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, McCalmont attempted an effort with the outside of his boot, but Cumming gathered it, before the hosts worked their way into the box down the right-hand side, where McCalmont’s shot went through the legs of Moore and narrowly wide.

Two minutes into the second period, Harris doubled his individual tally, and the U’s lead.

Fin Stevens played the ball down the side of the Carlisle defence, where Harris latched onto the ball and rounded Lewis.

The Welsh striker then momentarily lost his balance, but managed to find the target via the post, however the move left the home crowd furious, with supporters unhappy the flag wasn’t raised against Harris, who did appear to be in an offside position.

Brannagan then tested Lewis from the edge of the box, with the goalkeeper tipping away the United midfielder’s strike.

The U’s worked the ball out to the left 20 minutes into the second half, with Joe Bennett firing over.

Moments later, United added their third when Moore’s brilliant ball down the side found Goodrham, who cut inside and finished with a sweet low effort into the corner.

Buckingham’s only alteration saw Greg Leigh make his comeback from injury, when he replaced Bennett, for his first appearance since the 3-2 win at Leyton Orient on November 11.

The home side pulled a goal back almost straight away though, via McCalmont, after Cumming had made a good save to deny substitute Jordan Gibson.

Cumming then denied an almost certain goal when he flung himself to his left, in order to thwart a Joe Garner effort from the centre of the penalty area, while in stoppage time, the Chelsea loanee held an Owen Moxon shot at his near post.

Carlisle United (3-5-2): Lewis; Whelan (Garner 62), Lavelle, Mellish; Ellis, Neal (Charters 62), Moxon McCalmont (Edmondson 87), Robinson; Armstrong, Butterworth (Gibson 62).

Unused subs: Breeze, Armer, Maguire.

Booked: Moxon, Neal, Mellish, Garner.

Oxford United (3-4-3): Cumming; Smyth, Moore, Brown; Stevens, McGuane, Brannagan, Bennett (Leigh 69); Rodrigues, Harris, Goodrham.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Thorniley, McEachran, Henry, Burey, O’Donkor.

Booked: Bennett, Smyth.

Referee: Jacob Miles (Sussex).

Attendance: 7,827 (562 away).