New loan signing Jason Price made his first start for the club following his arrival at the club just 24 hours earlier with the side otherwise unchanged from the Tuesday night game against Millwall.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges and a hig ball into the Carlisle box on 4 minutes was difficult for Horwood to deal with. His header landed nicely for Lisbie and the nippy striker threw his right boot at it as it dropped from the sky. Adam Collin had to readjust and tip it over the bar as it deflected off Harte.

The corner was half cleared by Price and Lisbie tried to nod it goalwards, but his effort was thwarted for a push on the keeper.

Good play from Kavanagh took Okuonghae out of the play on 13 minutes and he fed Robson on the overlap down the left flank. He found a good position but the ball took a bobble and the cross flew off into the stands.

United thought they'd taken the lead on 18 minutes when Price and Kavanagh linked with a piece of good build up play. The midfielder eventually lofted the ball into the path of the onrushing striker but he poked his shot just wide as he found himself at a tight angle.

Kevan Hurst had a volley blocked at the edge of the area when a Kavanagh corner was diverted into his path, and Adam Clayton was disappointed to see his follow up effort drift well wide.

It was a good spell for the home side and Price knocked on the door again on 28 minutes when he stole a yard in the area to meet a wicked inswinging cross. He chose to try to guide his volley rather than blast it and he was gutted to see it bend away from the target.

Marc Tierney blazed a wild volley over the bar from 17 yards on 36 minutes when he was left unmarked at the back post, and Odejayi sent one into the Warwick as Colchester sent a long ball towards the imposing forward.

Disaster struck for Carlisle on 42 minutes when Taiwo slid in for his second rash challenge of the half and Mr Waugh wasted no time at all in sending him for an early shower.

United produced yet more flowing football just before the break but it wouldn't settle for Price and the moment was gone.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 U's

It was heart in the mouth time on 47 minutes when Horwood scuffed a clearance straight to Vincent. He crossed early but Livesey was there to prevent Lisbie from finishing it off.

Lisbie made his way into the box on 50 minutes when Colchester played their way forward and he was unlucky not to find the far corner as he tried to curl it beyond Collin.

Wordsworth created room for himself on 64 minutes when he dropped his shoulder and Collin had to parry it high as it flew towards his top corner. Livesey followed it and put it behind for a corner as Platt raced in to finish it off.

The visitors nicked a goal on 67 minutes when Ben Marshall thumped a clearance into Clayton inside the United box. It ricocheted and fell to Platt and he was able to poke it beneath Collin.

Marshall levelled the scores almost immediately when he held his run as Price twisted and turned by the bye line. The cut-back was perfect and the young forward calmly picked his spot as he rifled it into the roof of the net.

It got better for Carlisle on 73 minutes when Keogh teased his way towards the corner flag. His low cross was met at the near post by Jason Price and he marked his debut with a goal as he sent it beneath Williams.

The drama continued on the touchline as the celebrations followed and Greg Abbott was sent to the stands for the second time in the space of three weeks as the fourth official stood for no nonsense.

Platt should have equalised on 82 minutes when the ball pinged around in the area and settled in front of him. It looked like all he had to do was rattle it in but Horwood stuck a leg out and it was easy for Collin.

The U's tried to get forward in the closing stages but United defended well and deservedly picked up the 3 points.

Goals

United - Marshall (68), Price (73)

Colchester - Platt (67)

Bookings

United - Taiwo (30 + 42, sent off), Price (34)

Colchester - Henderson (38)

Teams 

United - Collin, Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Horwood, Hurst (Marshall 52), Taiwo, Kavanagh (Thirlwell 90), Clayton, Robson, Price. Subs (not used) - Gillespie, Bridge-Wilkinson, Murphy, Offiong, Kane.

Colchester - Williams, Okuonghae, Heath, Tierney, White, Odejayi (Platt 61), Henderson (Wordsworth 46), Fox, Lisbie, Prutton, Vincent (Ifil 61). Subs (not used) - Cousins, O'Toole, Batth, Gillespie.

Away fans - 177