Orient made three changes to the starting line up that has leaked 9 goals in their last two games, significantly welcoming the influential Craig Easton back in to the fold in midfield.

Neil McDonald made two changes, giving 19-year-old forward Johann Smith his first start whilst also bringing Paul Thirlwell back from suspension, as he looked to build on the good away work his side had done at Doncaster.

Orient fashioned the first real chances of the afternoon in the 4th minute when Ryan Jarvis swept a great pass out to the right for Tudor to run on to. He crossed to the near post where Jarvis used his strength to get to the ball, directing a powerful volley towards the bottom corner. Westwood was down quickly, getting firm hands to it, but it sat up nicely for Jarvis to have a second pop at the target. Although on the floor the Carlisle keeper managed to get enough on it to make sure that the danger could be cleared.

An Aranalde long throw on 7 minutes brought a flick from Hawley that evaded everyone on its way through to Glyn Garner, and a neat move down the left saw Aranalde, Garner and Jeff Smith link up to give the Carlisle left midfielder a shooting opportunity from 25 yards out. On his weaker right foot he could only send it over the crossbar as he shot under pressure from two red shirts.

A corner won from a huge Westwood kick in the 15th minute saw United take the lead when delivery specialist Jeff Smith used the near post run of Aranalde as a dummy, aiming instead for young striker Joe Garner. The number 14 rose high, finding the roof of the net with his pinpoint header to register his second goal in two games.

The O's tried to get back in to the game quickly and fashioned a great move down the left through Lockwood and Corden. The delivery in to the box was good, but just in front of Jarvis and Alexander.

Alexander also found himself in space on 20 minutes, drilling a fierce cross towards the 6 yard area for the attackers to run on to. Raven got his boot to it, thrashing it clear, and Danny Livesey was there on this occasion to head it away when Alexander sent it back in once more. Livesey had to be on hand yet again in the 23rd minute when Miller tried to find Jarvis with a curling ball in to the centre, and the big defender didn't disappoint with a solid volley in to the other half.

United came close again from another excellent set piece delivery from Jeff Smith when Thelwell could only complete a half clearance. Johann Smith crashed his volley in to the ground, but Gall was able to clip it back in to the box with the Orient defence in disarray. Livesey was there to meet it, and he could have done better as he rose to head over the bar, from 9 yards out, completely unchallenged.

Peter Murphy did well when he cut out a Corden free kick that was floating dangerously towards the bottom of the net and Corden was the supply route again, on the half hour, when a free kick from the left touchline found Jarvis in space. The tall striker connected, but had to watch his header loop on to the top of the cross bar.

Kev Gall almost caught everyone unawares with an opportunistic 40 yarder from a wayward Glyn Garner goal kick and it had the keeper scrambling back as he was relieved to see it drift past the upright.

Wayne Corden was coming in to it more and his patience in possession almost paid off in the 36th minute when he exchanged passes before picking out Alexander, who was tearing his way in to the box. Murphy did well to stay with him, making sure that the O's forward could only send his header in to the ground in front of Westwood.

Carlisle should have extended their lead on 38 minutes when Garner broke the offside trap and carried it on towards the area. Hawley was beside him, and an unselfish pass put the top scorer one on one with Glyn Garner. The ball bobbled just as he shaped to lift it in to the bottom corner and, although Garner was beaten, the defender was able to get it away.

Jeff Smith forced a great save out of Garner in the 42nd minute when he tried to sneak a 25 yard free kick in to the left hand corner, and it took quick feet from the keeper to enable him to get across and palm the ball away. Karl Hawley was on hand to loft the rebound back in to the box, but Chambers was there to put it behind for a corner.

Things got tasty on the touchline as half time approached as Wayne Corden got himself in to an altercation, having kicked the ball in to a prone Carlisle player, who was waiting for treatment after a meaty challenge. Mr Shoebridge was needed to calm things down, but decided to show just the one yellow card once the situation had settled.

Half Time: Orient 0 - 1 United

McDonald went for a double substitution for the start of the second half, bringing Gray and Joyce on for Livesey and Johann Smith, but his half time team talk counted for nothing as the O's won an early corner.

Gray got his head to it, but it was sent towards the back post where Aranalde opted to try to head it clear, rather than watch it drift away for a goal kick. Lockwood, who had taken the initial corner, had time to line up his volley, thundering it in to the top corner, showing fantatstic technique, and leaving Westwood with absolutely no chance.

United had half a shout for a penalty waved away on 55 minutes when Garner was bundled over in the box, and they wasted a good free kick chance on 58 minutes when Hawley whipped a 23 yarder high over the bar, with Jeff Smith and Garner both making runs in the box.

Gall found himself in acres of space on 61 minutes as Carlisle burst from midfield and was disappointed when his pass fell too close to keeper Glyn Garner, with both Hawley and Joe Garner screaming in to the box.

A very scrappy half was seeing few clear cut chances, typified by a Westwood punch from a Lockwood corner that cannoned in to Mackie's face. Although unmarked, the Orient captain had no time to react and the ball was cleared.

Having just stopped the game for 4 minutes when an Orient player fell to the floor with a head injury, the Referee controversially allowed play to continue when Gray was floored in the United penalty area. Despite the Carlisle sub clearly showing discomfort, balls in to the box were allowed to continue and it was relief all round when Barnard nodded weakly in to the arms of Westwood.

Jeff Smith put a 23 yard free kick straight at Garner as the game remained in the balance, but neither keeper was really being tested as the attacks were being kept at arms length.

Joe Garner was close to bagging his second following some wonderful individual skill in the 85th minute when he picked the ball up on the right and cut in to the box. With defenders falling by the wayside he saw the chance to shoot, but couldn't keep it down as he tried to pick his spot.

Jason Demetriou flicked a header wide from a long throw as both teams went for the 3 points, and Ryan Jarvis almost caught Westwood out with a speculative 27 yarder that flew up off the uneven surface and hit the Carlisle stopper on the shoulder. The subsequent ball in to the area evaded everyone as it bounced across the face of the goal, missing a string of outstretched Orient toes.

With nothing clear cut being created, both sides left the field after a real battle that had brought a deserved share of the spoils for all concerned.

Goals

Orient - Lockwood (47)

United - Garner (15)

Bookings

Orient - Easton (16), Lockwood (40), Corden (43)

United - Raven (11), Hawley (68), Garner (78)

Teams

Orient - Garner, Miller, Thelwell (Tann 46), Mackie (Barnard 68), Lockwood, Tudor, Easton, Chambers, Corden (Demetriou 82), Jarvis, Alexander. Subs - Morris, Walker.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey (Gray 46), Murphy, Aranalde, Gall (Holmes 90), Johann Smith (Joyce 46), Thirlwell, Jeff Smith, Garner, Hawley. Subs - Williams, Krause.

Away fans - 717