Manager Greg Abbott stuck with the same starting line up that earned him a Carling Cup third-round tie against Premiership side Portsmouth with new signing Richard Offiong having to take a place on the bench.

Peter Murphy stepped forward to make his 350th appearance for the club in all competitions to achieve yet another fantastic landmark in his 8-year spell with the club.

A long ball forward from Murphy brought the first corner of the game and Ian Harte met that one in the congested penalty area. His header had power but it flew high over the bar.

Great football involving Anyinsah, Dobie and Raven gave Hurst a shooting opportunity from just outside the area on 9 minutes but it lacked pace and Morris was able to drop down onto it.

Joe Anyinsah was then sent clear by a ball over the top from Thirlwell and he held it up well as he crept into the box. He lost his balance as he shot and the effort screwed over the bar.

Kevan Hurst got a second bite of the cherry to cross on the quarter hour mark when his initial centre was blocked, and he found Joe Anyinsah as he raced in at the front post. He was unmarked, but his header was wayward and never threatened the target.

Hurst tried one for himself on 18 minutes with a 23-yarder that was easy for the keeper and Orient finally mounted an attack of their own when McGleish attempted an extravagant overhead kick as he waited for the ball to drop on the penalty spot.

Thirlwell had a shot from the edge of the area blocked following strong work from Anyinsah as the Cumbrians ran the first half show and Ian Harte pulled one wide from a similar range when he found the space to get forward.

The O's registered their first shot on goal in the 34th minute when Pidgeley came out to punch a high ball. It dropped to Jimmy Smith and he went for the punt over the retreating keeper, only to see his shot whistle into the stands.

There was action at both ends in the 41st minute which started when Harte crossed for Dobie to make a challenge. His glancing header angled towards Morris, and he wasted no time at all in releasing it upfield. It eventually went wide to Melligan and his cross found McGleish in space. Pidgeley had to take care as he helped the header over the bar.

United broke quickly from the corner and neat one-touch football from Raven and Hurst put Taiwo clear in midfield. He carried it forward and measured a pass into the path of the overlapping Matt Robson. A cool head from the winger brought an excellent finish in the bottom corner as Carlisle deservedly took the lead.

Half Time: Orient 0 - 1 United

The Referee surprised everyone in the 46th minute when he pointed to the spot following what appeared to be a very good challenge from Peter Murphy. It was deemed that his foot was high and, to the disbelief of everyone, he awarded the kick.

Scott McGleish drilled his first effort into the top corner, but it descended into farce when he was made to take it again for an infringement inside the box. Lenny Pidgeley got a hand to the second one, but it crept in via the base of the post.

A Danny Livesey flick header from a Harte free kick brought a superb save from Morris as Carlisle tried to regain their lead, and Murphy had a header blocked as United camped forward.

Carlisle should have taken the lead on 61 minutes when a Robson free kick was controlled by Dobie. It dropped in front of him just 8-yards out but he poked his volley right at Morris, when a shot either side would have brought a goal.

Dobie almost sneaked one into the bottom corner when he spun and shot from 19-yards following persistent work from Hurst. Morris was at his best again as he scrambled across and tipped it away for a corner.

Orient raised spirits around the ground on 77 minutes when a Patuela shot fizzed past Pidgeley's post, and Melligan followed that with a 25-yarder that curled just wide.

Gary Madine sent his first touch towards the bottom corner when he cushioned his header down, but the O's stole the lead on 85 minutes when Patuela broke quickly from deep. His touch put McGleish one-on-one with Pidgeley and the clipped lob that followed nestled comfortably in the back of the net.

It was an end to end finish and Pidgeley was needed to deny McGleish his hat-trick as he went one-on-one, with Gary Madine also denied by a superb one handed save from Morris.

But captain Paul Thirlwell rescued the point that Carlisle deserved when he twisted and turned inside the area before stroking an unstoppable left foot volley into the bottom corner.

Goals

Orient - McGleish (48 pen), (85)

United - Robson (42), Thirlwell (90)

Bookings

Orient - Ashworth (63)

United - Thirlwell (65), Robson (90)

Teams

Orient - Morris, Purches, Mkandawire, Ashworth, Melligan, McGleish, Demetriou, Daniels, Jarvis (Patuela 70), Smith, Townsend (Chambers 54). Subs (not used) - Cave-Brown, Pires, Baker, Hall, Giddens.

United - Pidgeley, Raven, Livesey, Murphy (Offiong 87), Harte, Hurst, Taiwo (Kavanagh 68), Thirlwell, Robson, Anyinsah, Dobie (Madine 81). Subs (not used) - Collin, Horwood, Rothery, Kane.

Away fans - 424