Darryl Duffy and Peter Murphy came into the starting line up for the visit of MK Dons with Evan Horwood suffering from a bruised foot and Graham Kavanagh rested after a hectic run of games. 

MK Dons started brightly but United created the first real opening when Duffy linked with Robson on the left. His low cross brought a toe end clearance from Tunnicliffe as Dobie raced in.

A long throw from the right had Ian Harte stretching on 8 minutes and his header dropped to Townsend. His shot was blocked and it took a swipe from Hurst to make sure that the danger was snuffed out.

A great spin and shot from Morgan on 9 minutes almost took Collin by surprise but he recovered and palmed the ball away for a corner. The delivery from that found the imposing figure of Stirling at the back post but Adam Clayton held his position and cleared off the line as the header pinged at him.

A Dean Morgan free kick was deflected behind on 20 minutes as MK Dons enjoyed the bulk of the possession but it was United who took the lead when they burst forward and won a corner for themselves.

Kevan Hurst sent it in and Ian Harte notched his 12th of the season as he was allowed to run free and finish it from close range.

There was an almighty scramble in the area on 28 minutes when Hurst swung a low cross towards the 6 yard box and Keogh and Duffy both had efforts as Davis struggled to clear.

Wilbraham sent a volley right at Collin on 38 minutes when he picked up on a loose Thirlwell header but that was a prelude to another quick push forward for the Cumbrians. The ball came to Adam Clayton and his shot was blocked. It spun across the area towards Matt Robson and he kept his head, took a touch and drilled it beneath Gueret to double the lead.

Robson should have made it even more comfortable on the stroke of half time when Dobie spotted his run from tight by the goal line. The cut back was perfect but the winger was always leaning back and he spooned his first time effort high over the bar.

Half Time: United 2 - 0 MK Dons

Darryl Duffy went within a whisker of scoring on his home debut when a 47th minute corner was nodded his way by Dobie. He got a touch to take it past Gueret but Tunnicliffe was on the line to clear it.

Peter Murphy got an important touch on 51 minutes when Sol Davis crashed a Chadwick lay off through a gaggle of blue shirts, and his toe end was enough to prevent what would have been a certain goal.

Darryl Duffy got the chance his work rate deserved on the hour mark when he ran onto a ball over the top to go one-on-one with Gueret. He struck the shot well but Gueret stayed big and beat it away.

He got his first goal for the club in the next attack though when he got onto the end of a lovely move involving neat passes between Thirlwell and Robson to stroke it into the back of the net.

It then became a rout as United camped forward and Scott Dobie finished off a Keogh cross to get a well deserved goal, and Joe Anyinsah notched a fifth for his side with his first touch of the game with a cool finish from another wicked Robson cross.

The Cumbrians kept pressing forward with players queueing up to score, but Townsend nearly grabbed a late consolation when his shot from the edge of the area screwed up off Murphy's boot and dropped just wide of the upright. And Luke Chadwick poked one wide after a mazy run moments later but he was disappointed when it went harmlessly behind.

Joe Anyinsah rattled the woodwork with a stinging effort as United continued to dominate, and the crowd rose to its feet as the whistle blew on what was a memorable performance.

Goals

United - Harte (21), Robson (39), Duffy (63), Dobie (71), Anyinsah (73)

Bookings

United - Dobie (32)

MK Dons - Gleeson (32), Lewington (32), Chadwick (58), Townsend (68), Davis (69)

Teams 

United - Collin, Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Murphy, Hurst, Clayton, Thirlwell (Taiwo 79), Robson (Marshall 75), Dobie (Anyinsah 72), Duffy. Subs - Pidgeley, Bridge-Wilkinson, Offiong, Kane.

MK Dons - Gueret, Stirling (Flanagan 83), Lewington, Gleeson, Wilbraham, Tuncliffe, Davis (Rae 71), Leven, Morgan (Gobern 53), Chadwick, Townsend. Subs - Carrington, Howell, Randall, Harrison.

Away fans - 163