Player-coach Graham Kavanagh kept his starting place despite the return to fitness of Chelsea teenager Tom Taiwo and with manager Greg Abbott opting for an unchanged starting line up from the side that won 3-0 against Tranmere last week.

It took just 16 seconds for United to register a shot on target when Thirlwell bullied his way through midfield. He found Robson who played it inside to Dobie. The big striker used his strength to create some space but his 22-yard shot was right at Kuipers.

But Brighton were ahead after four minutes when a half-cleared ball out of the box was lobbed into the path of the predatory Nicky Forster. He was completely unmarked and he took his time as he dinked it beyond the advancing Lenny Pidgeley.

Danny Livesey tried to reply immediately with a powerful header from a Hurst corner but he put too much on it and it flew back across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick.

Carlisle continued to probe with Matt Robson seeing plenty of the ball, but it wouldn't drop in the area as the strikers tried to find their way in behind.

Kuipers had to tip over the bar when El-Abd nodded a Robson long throw towards his own top corner, and there were a chorus of appeals for a penalty from the resulting corner when El-Abd held on to Livesey's shirt as the ball floated across.

The Referee then angered the visiting side as Forster burst through to go one-on-one and, as he went shoulder to shoulder with Livesey, he dropped to the floor theatrically. Mr Haines wasted no time in waving the claims for a spot kick away as the dug outs argued their case.

Robson and Anyinsah combined on 28 minutes as they worked a way through the middle, but the shot from the left winger was blocked when he got to the edge of the box.

Arron Davies jinked his way into shooting range in the 33rd minute but his curler was always going wide despite the full length dive from Pidgeley.

Kevan Hurst was left with his head in his hands on 36 minutes when he picked up an inside pass from Anyinsah. He took just one touch before shooting but it curled inches wide with Kuipers beaten.

United finished the half in a flourish with blocked shots from Anyinsah, Kavanagh and Raven following each other in quick succession, but it wouldn't drop kindly for a frustrated Carlisle side.

Half Time: United 0 - 1 Brighton

Scott Dobie made a Robson corner his own in the 48th minute but it skipped off his forehead as he flung himself at it and bounced harmlessly wide.

Anyinsah nodded one wide when Kavanagh beat his man on the left flank and floated a cross to the near post. The United forward was adamant that he hadn't got the last touch, but a goal kick was given.

Robson showed his pace in the 56th minute when he beat two on the left touchline before streaking his way towards the penalty area. He crossed low, but Dicker got a vital touch just as Anyinsah tried to divert the ball into the bottom corner.

The Cumbrians kept the pressure on and Raven had a scuffed shot collected by Anyinsah as he strode into the box. Anyinsah then screwed a volley right at Kuipers when a swathe of blue shirts stayed forward at the corner.

The afternoon got worse for United on 65 minutes when Liam Dickinson found unexpected space on the left flank. His low cross was met by a completely unmarked Nicky Forster, and he was able to stab home from close range as Pidgeley tried to recover.

Brighton were bright on the break and Forster almost burst through on 75 minutes only to be thwarted by a last ditch challenge from Murphy. And it needed a backtracking header from Raven to prevent Forster again moments later as Gary Hart swung a great ball towards the lively forward.

Richard Offiong had two late chances to notch his first goal for the club, but Kuipers first blocked with his boot from a downward header before he dropped to smother a close range shot to frustrate the big striker and maintain the Brighton clean sheet.

Goals

Brighton - Forster (4, 66)

Bookings

United - Anyinsah (65)

Brighton - El-Abd (45), Dicker (64), Dickinson (68), A Davies (71)

Teams 

United - Pidgeley, Raven, Harte, Murphy, Livesey, Hurst (Madine 72), Robson, Thirlwell, Kavanagh (Taiwo 72), Dobie (Offiong 64), Anyinsah. Subs - Collin, Kane, Horwood, Bridge-Wilkinson.

Brighton - Kuipers, Virgo, El-Abd, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, Bennett (Thornhill 89), A Davies, Dicker, Crofts, Dickinson (Hart 76), Forster. Subs - Smith, Wright, Navarro, McLeod, C Davies.

Away fans - 337