Ben Parker made his debut at left back for the trip to Hartlepool having signed just 48 hours earlier and Liam Noble came back into the starting line up for the suspended James Berrett. 

The first chance of the day saw Michalik try to repeat his exploits from the last long range free kick he took at the Victoria Ground, but he couldn't keep this one down and it sailed over the bar.

Carlisle were rocked back on their heels on six minutes when a ball down the left flank somehow stayed in. A neat back heel took Parker out of the game and Michalik struggled to clear the dipping cross which followed. His touch put it on a plate for youngster Luke James to drill into the back of the net via a deflection.

Liddle was next to go close when he got on the end of a patient move but his stinging shot edged just wide of the upright. Pools stayed forward and Brown tried his luck from a snapshot which took a touch off Livesey before bending away for a corner.

United relied on set pieces and McGovern bent one wide from 26 yards as the visitors tried to make things happen, but Hartlepool looked dangerous as they flooded forward in numbers.

And their positive approach brought a second goal on 18 minutes when a deep cross from the left found Sweeney with space. He rose to greet it and he cushioned it calmly into the bottom corner with Collin stranded.

Hartlepool defended well as Carlisle won a string of free kicks and corners, but the afternoon got worse for the Cumbrians when Lee Miller was shown a straight red card for what appeared to be a challenge without malice on Andy Monkhouse.

The Cumbrians picked up the pace after the red card incident but they couldn't find a way through, and a quick break and cross from Horwood almost opened the door at the other end once more. Sweeney flicked it on but Monkhouse could only stab his volley wide.

Michalik then scuffed a clearance right at Brown and he accepted the invitation to run forward to the edge of the area. Collin had to dive low to make a one-handed save.

Sweeney was given more unexpected space just before the break but he couldn't keep his header down from a teasing corner delivery and it rose harmlessly away.

Half Time: Pools 2 - 0 United

The Cumbrians made a double substitution after the break with Madden and Cook replacing Taiwo and Livesey, but it was Hartlepool who had the first chance when Sweeney looped a harmless header over the bar.

Liam Noble curled a 23-yard free kick into the back of his own man as the visitors tried to make a mark, and they thought they had scored on 55 minutes when McGovern clipped a 19-yard free kick over the wall. Flinders was beaten but it crept just wide of the post.

United were vulnerable on the break as they threw men forward and Liddle almost capitalised with a well struck volley which curled away as it approached the target.

Disaster struck on 68 minutes when Carlisle appeared to be in control at the back. Parker set it up for Collin but a hesitation from the keeper before he made his clearance allowed Sweeney to race in. James did the rest as he robbed possession on the left, strode into the area and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Pools were lifted by the goal and Zoko had to clear off the line when Sweeney beat Collin to a Nish delivery. The header was well placed until the striker put a boot in the way.

Collin then had to save low from the lively Luke James as he somehow evaded three challenges before unsuccessfully going for his hat-trick.

The Pools looked confident and they made it four for the afternoon on 82 minutes when Nish stayed forward for a half clearance. It was a good decision as the ball was lobbed back in and he took one touch before sliding it beneath the advancing Adam Collin.

James spurned another opportunity to grab his hat-trick when he lofted a poor free kick over the bar, but his man of the match performance was enough to consign United to just their third defeat in nineteen outings.

Goals

Pools - James (6, 68), Sweeney (18), Nish (82)

Bookings

Pools - Brown (16), Liddle (55)

United - Miller (sent off, 27 - straight red card), Michalik (90)

Teams

Pools - Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood (Haslam 39), Murray (Baldwin 85), Liddle, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Brown (Nish 70), James. Subs - Rafferty, Humphreys.

United - Collin, Simek, Michalik, Livesey (Cook 46), Parker, Thirlwell (Chantler 76), Noble, Taiwo (Madden 46), McGovern, Zoko, Miller. Subs - Gillespie, Murphy.

Away fans - 934