Chris Billy's impressive display against Charlton on Tuesday evening earned him a recall to the United starting eleven, with Paul Thirlwell also reclaiming his central berth.
Kev Gray came back in to the centre of the back line with Simon Hackney also getting the nod ahead of Derek Holmes.
With some solid and entertaining performances on the road under their belts Carlisle were looking to build on that with maximum points at home, and they started the game clearly brimming with confidence.
Having threatened to take control with some decent football from the kick off they did just that on 6 minutes when Zigor Aranalde launched a huge throw in to the area. Lynch moved to deal with it, but got it all wrong, misjudging the flight of the ball. Karl Hawley was waiting to see what would happen and needed just one touch to set himself up before spinning and smashing the ball beyond Kuipers in to the corner of the net.
It was convincing stuff from the Cumbrians and they were causing all sorts of problems, worrying the Albion defence with their movement and shape. Kuipers was extremely lucky to receive just a few stern words from the Ref in the 11th minute when a ball over the top forced him to dash out of his area to challenge Hawley. He was all over the striker, making a real mess of his challenge, but a lenient approach from the official spared the big keeper any further embarrassment.
Lumsdon lifted the free kick towards the back post and it took a rushed piece of defending to get the ball away for a corner. Hackney delivered that one, finding the forceful run of Peter Murphy, but the header was always rising and zipped just over the bar.
Simon Hackney used his pace to good effect in the 15th minute when he got to a pass that everyone else had given up on. He had created himself some time and found Hawley with a dangerous cross, but the Hitman was reaching slightly behind himself to connect with the header and couldn't keep it down.
Murphy seemed determined to get himself on the score sheet after his woodwork hitting antics on Tuesday night and two headers in quick succession, both from Chris Lumsdon crosses, almost did the job for him. The first one was blocked by Santos with the second one speeding inches beyond the post.
With Carlisle mounting all of the attacks Joel Lynch was to count himself extremely fortunate not to register an own goal in the 24th minute when Kev Gall did all the donkey work before sending a low cross towards the near post. The big defender seemed to be slightly off balance and he had no control over the ricochet that deflected wildly off his shin. Kuipers was beaten, but so was the post, and Lynch was able to breath again.
The afternoon got even better for Carlisle, and deservedly so, on 31 minutes when Zigor Aranalde turned provider. His initial free kick was charged down but the ball came back to him, asking
to be crashed back in to the box first time. Aranalde didn't disappoint, putting his foot through it, and Kev Gray was able to hold his position 6 yards from goal, diverting the ball in to the net with his right foot.
The Seagulls started to enjoy some better possession after the second goal and Cox was the first to get a sighter in when he broke forward from midfield. It was a good 25 yards out, but it had to be watched as it started to dip and swirl it's way to a goal kick.
Dean Hammond started to settle in midfield and a strong run from him resulted in a free header for Gary Hart. It needed a full length dive from Westwood, and a firm push on the ball, to keep it from pulling the score back to 2-1.
United were still attacking in style, though, and a quick Aranalde free kick sent Hackney away down the left in the 39th minute. He knew his forwards would be in support so he wasted no time at all in getting the ball in. Hawley and Gall flung themselves at it, but neither could get the touch that would have brought a certain goal.
It was an all action close to the first 45 minutes and Kev Gall thought he'd got one in the 44th minute when he volleyed a Karl Hawley cross, from the left, on the full. There was plenty of power, but it flew just inches wide as he failed to find the target.
Frutos tried to make things happen at the other end when he waited for the movement of Hammond from midfield, and Westwood was relieved to see the header come right at him as the Albion midfielder shook off his markers and made the ball his own.
Following the pattern of most of the first half the final passage of play took place in the Brighton penalty area, and it was all started by some excellent stuff from Peter Murphy. He surged out of defence, using Hackney to create space with a neat one - two, and had Gall, Lumsdon and Hawley stretching to get on to his cross. The latter would get to it, but not quite as he would have wanted, and it was a scuffed shot that bobbled harmlessly wide.
Half Time: United 2 - 0 Brighton
Wilkins was forced in to another change at the start of the second period, bringing Molango on for Santos, and it brought a switch around in playing positions for the players on the pitch to accommodate the new arrival.
United were still looking the more likely to score and two long throws from Aranalde in the 50th minute had the defence at sixes and sevens, with plenty of blue shirts after the ball. Kev Gray was lurking, but the back row did its job on this occasion.
An intricate routine from a 52nd minute free kick saw Karl Hawley mis-hit his shot as he had to turn to get on to a Lumsdon touch. The crowd had expected a Murphy piledriver, but the Cumbrians opted to try and take everyone by surprise.
60 seconds later Kev Gall brought a great save out of Kuipers as he latched on to some Hawley hold up play. He had done everything right in his build up to the shot, and was unlucky not to see his grasscutter nestle in the back of the net.
If Carlisle thought they were going to get it all their own way they were to be given a sharp reminder that there was still plenty to do when Westwood had to tip a Lynch header over the bar. The ball was arrowing towards his top corner, as the Seagulls used it well, and the keeper was given a big round of applause for his acrobatic efforts.
It was a much better spell for the visitors who took control during a lull in the play by Carlisle, without pressing home the advantage where it really mattered. Molango was wasteful with his crossing opportunities and the forwards couldn't find that decisive touch, with Murphy and Gray marshalling well in the middle. Rather than getting behind the Cumbrians it was long range and hopeful, for the most part and both Frutos and Revell had a go from distance, and Westwood would have been happy to accept that kind of shot all day.
A 73rd minute header from Frutos had Raven scrabbling on the line, but the Seagulls were struggling to find the target with their chances and were unable to increase the pressure.
It had been a subdued second half but things came to life again in the 81st minute when Karl Hawley showed some excellent skill out wide. A drop of the shoulder preceded a wonderful cross that picked out the smallest man on the pitch at the far post. Simon Hackney rose high and headed the ball back across the face of the goal, finding the bottom corner and leaving Kuipers stranded.
Brighton still weren't done themselves, though, and Alex Revell was quick to pounce on a Murphy slip on the edge of his own area in the 87th minute. The chance had come from nothing and the Albion man was able to pick his spot as the Cumbrians were caught flat footed.
Fraser put a header over the bar and Revell had Westwood diving again as the clock ticked down, but it had been a less explosive second half that Carlisle were able to see out in relative comfort.
This was job done by United in a game that you always felt they could have stepped up another few gears in, if it had been required. As it was, they controlled the play by not allowing Brighton to settle and were clinical when chances came along. The 3 points were exactly what was needed after the good away run of draws and the League table continues to look very healthy indeed after this very disciplined display.
Goals
United - Hawley (6), Gray (30), Hackney (82)
Brighton - Revell (87)
Bookings
United - Raven (72)
Brighton - Hammond (28), Hart (63)
Teams
United - Westwood, Raven (Arnison 74), Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Billy, Thirlwell, Hackney, Gall, Hawley. Not Used - Williams, Livesey, Holmes, Hindmarch.
Brighton - Kuipers, El-Abd, Santos (Molango 46), Lynch, Mayo, Frutos (Rents 78), Hammond, Reid (Fraser 29), Revell, Hart, Cox. Not Used - Henderson, Butters.
Away Fans - tbc
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