Manager Greg Abbott handed striker Gary Madine his first League One start of the season with the young forward reported to be the subject of further interest from Championship side Coventry City.

Graham Kavanagh dropped to the bench to accommodate the switch, with Adam Clayton and Paul Thirlwell matched up at the heart of the midfield.

A good start from United saw Robson rob the ball off Purches on the halfway line and he streaked towards the Orient box. His cross had the O's backline worried but Madine couldn't get there as Chorley covered.

Madine and Anyinsah were hustled off the ball as they tried to force their way into the area as United stayed forward, but it all became a bit flat as the midfield players cancelled each other out.

But Joe Anyinsah made it three goals in two games on 14 minutes when he latched onto a loose ball as Horwood was tackled on the edge of the area. He got hold of it, took it through one challenge and calmly found the bottom corner with an excellent finish.

Orient went close to grabbing an equaliser on 22 minutes when a flowing move down the right found Scowcroft in space at the near post. He spun and drilled it across the face of goal and all it needed was a touch as the United defence were left stranded.

A first time cross from Kev Hurst after a good nod down from Madine had Robson interested at the back stick, but he couldn't quite get there as two defenders converged to make life difficult.

Demetriou broke on 32 minutes and had space for the cross but Ian Harte watched the run and stepped in to clear the ball for a corner when the cross came in. Harte blocked from Thornton seconds later when he let one go from 19 yards in what was a good spell for the visitors.

A superb pass from Horwood found Madine just 8 yards from goal on 39 minutes and his neat touch had Jones scrambling back. The keeper got a fingertip to it to send it away for a corner.

It was a corner that led to United's second goal on 42 minutes when Ian Harte rose unmarked 12 yards out to head the ball into the bottom corner to take him back to the top of the club goal scoring charts with his tenth goal of the season.

Richard Offiong was sent through as Carlisle attacked again but he couldn't get the ball from under his feet and he put the shot right at Jones.

Half Time: United 2 - 0 Orient

The O's came out of the traps determined to make their mark and Thornton exchanged passes in their first attack with Scowcroft as he made his way into the area. It opened up for him but his left foot shot was always heading over the bar.

It became end to end and the visitors got their foot in the door on 59 minutes when Thornton found Scowcroft in a dangerous position. His well struck shot was blocked but it fell kindly for Jarvis and he made no mistake when he thumped it into the roof of the net.

Harte went close to restoring the two goal adavntage with a dipping 23 yard free kick that had Jamie Jones scrambling, but the keeper kept his eye on it and managed to get enough of a hand to it to send it behind for a corner.

Adam Collin survived huge appeals for a penalty when he spilled a long range shot from Adams. Demetriou tried to get there and he went down under the challenge from the keeper. Red shirts surrounded the referee but he ignored the arguments and waved play on.

It was all about Orient and they levelled the scores on 77 minutes when an Adams corner was only half cleared. It quickly came back and Jarvis sent a harmless looking effort towards the back post. It appeared to be going wide but Danny Livesey got in the way and his intervention sent it into the top corner.

The pressure continued to build on the United goal and substitute Tehoue was Johnny on the spot when Purches whipped a wicked cross into the box. It was a firm header and it brought a wonderful save from Collin as the big keeper had to drop quickly to claw the ball off the line and away for a corner.

Richard Keogh tried to get things going for Carlisle with time running out and he did well to create space in the area as he weaved a route to the bye line. He crunched his cross away from Jones but he got a touch that took it away from the onrushing Gary Madine.

Livesey cleared off the line from an Adams poke on 90 minutes as Orient finished strongly, but it was honours even as the managers headed off to face the 'game of two halves cliches' that were clearly coming their way.

Goals

United - Anyinsah (14), Harte (42)

Orient - Jarvis (59), Livesey (og 77)

Bookings

United - Harte (90)

Teams 

Carlisle United - Collin, Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Horwood, Hurst (Bridge-Wilkinson 79), Clayton, Thirlwell, Robson, Madine, Anyinsah (Offiong 39). Subs (not used) - Pidgeley, Murphy, Kavanagh, Taiwo, Kane.

Leyton Orient - Jones, Purches, Chorley, Mkandawire, Daniels, Adams, Thornton, Chambers, Demetriou, Scowcroft (Tehoue 71), Jarvis (Smith 90). Subs (not used) - Morris, Melligan, Cave-Brown, Pires, Briggs.

Away fans - 182