Gary Madine made his first start since January at the spearhead of the United attack as Jason Price due to a slight hamstring problem.

The side was otherwise unchanged as the Cumbrians looked to build on their impressive recent run of form.

The visitors had the early pressure but blocks from Horwood and Aldred kept the automatic promotion hopefuls at bay.

A high boot from Gradel went unnoticed by Mr Halsey on 5 minutes and that allowed Kilkenny the chance to shoot. He struck it well but it curled just past the post.

An uncharacteristic error from Aldred saw him take his eye off the ball on 8 minutes and it looked like Gradel was going to skip clear. The young defender recovered quickly and made an excellent tackle just as the shot came in.

Adam Collin came out to gather the resulting corner and he received a push in the back just as the ball whipped into the top corner. The Cumbrians were relieved to see the goal chalked off for the foul.

Robert Snodgrass sent a wild shot over the bar as Leeds stayed forward, and he took charge of a 22-yard free kick when Thirlwell dumped Kilkenny to the floor with a loose challenge. Collin appeared to get good hands to the net-bound set-piece, but he fumbled it as he hit the floor and Becchio was able to steal in and sweep it into the waiting net.

Becchio then drilled a shot from the edge of the area just wide as the pressure mounted, and he was guilty of a glaring miss on 18 minutes when he arrived late in the box. He connected with the low cross just 3 yards out but he somehow guided it wide when he had the width of the goal to aim at.

Collin was in action again on 23 minutes when he had to dive smartly to tip a Snodgrass free kick behind for a corner, and Carlisle tried to make things happen for themselves with some testing balls into the Whites box.

United were let off the hook again on 34 minutes when Gradel ran clear from midfield. He made into the area before poking a bobbling cross across the face of goal. Horwood lost his footing but he stuck a boot out to clear it before Kilkenny could apply the finishing touch.

Gradel was then handed a shooting opportunity on a plate when Harte tried a back header to get the ball to Collin, not realising that the striker was behind him. Gradel took a touch and swivelled, but Collin stayed big and beat it away.

Carlisle got themselves back on level terms just before half time when Ian Harte swung a pinpoint free kick towards the penalty spot. Richard Keogh timed his run perfectly and his firm header left Higgs flapping at thin air.

Half TIme: United 1 - 1 Leeds

The Whites had regained the lead within two minutes of the restart when slack defending left the visitors with men to spare. A clipped cross into the box was met by Gradel and he made no mistake with a powerful header into the roof of the net.

A lightning quick break brought Leeds their third goal on 51 minutes when Becchio was played clean through the middle. He kept the ball and his head to finish cleanly beneath the dive of Collin.

A Hughes cross on 56 minutes had Becchio interested in his hat-trick but he sent his header right at Collin when a yard either way would have brought him his moment.

Scott Dobie sent a great ball into the box on 59 minutes as the home side tried to get back into the game and Adam Clayton did well to send it goalwards under pressure from Doyle. Higgs reacted well to punch it away for a corner.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had a real chance to get himself on the scoresheet on 69 minutes when Marshall skipped down the left flank and delivered a swerving cross. It fell nicely for the Carlisle substitute but he struck his volley too cleanly and it angled away from the target.

Gary Madine popped a header right at Higgs in United's next attack, and Madine kept battling away as the Cumbrians worked hard to try to get some kind of foothold.

The action moved into midfield though and Leeds defended in numbers to protect their two goal lead.

Goals

United - Keogh (43)

Leeds - Becchio (13, 51), Gradel (47)

Bookings

United - Clayton (41), Marshall (90)

Leeds - Naylor (43)

Teams 

United - Collin, Keogh, Aldred (Raven 64), Harte, Horwood, Dobie (Bowman 85), Thirlwell (Bridge-Wilkinson 59), Clayton, Taiwo, Marshall, Madine. Subs (not used) - Pidgeley, Kavanagh, Rothery, Kane.

Leeds - Higgs, Doyle, Naylor, Kilkenny, Becchio (Beckford 87), Howson, Hughes, Snodgrass, Bromby, Gradel (Grella 87), Collins. Subs (not used) - Ankergren, McSheffrey, Parker, Lowry, Watt.

Away fans - 2,503