United's third home game in quick succession brought Hartlepool United over the A69 on Tuesday night.

United boss Keith Millen made one change from Saturday's starters with Omari Patrick starting in place of Corey Whelan. 

That meant a drop back into an attacking midfield role for Jon Mellish, with pace and power up front with new arrivals Omotoye and Patrick.

There was superb work from Dickenson with just 55 seconds on the clock when he plucked a long kick from Howard out of the air. His second connection was a wicked delivery that whipped into the box. It was just a yard in front of Patrick and it bounced harmlessly behind.

Howard was calm when a deep cross from Ferguson came his way, and he released quickly to spark another attack. Omotoye turned his man and looked for help, and he found it through Mellish. Gibson took over, but his 22-yarder hit a defender and the save was easy for Killip to complete.

It was a fast-paced opening and Patrick and Mellish worked closely together to put Omotoye on a run. He pulled the trigger from the angle, 18-yards out, but it flew into the Waterworks End.

There was more skill on show on 11 minutes, firstly when Gibson trapped a dipper tight by the touchline. It was passed through legs to Omotoye, and he rode a challenge to win a corner. Guy floated that long, and McDonald nodded it back into the mix, where Mellish kept possession. A hook over his shoulder had Feeney interested, but the ball was eventually marshalled away.

Pools attacked with purpose for the first time on the quarter hour when Ferguson overlapped. He had half a sight of the target until Dickenson tracked back to make a vital tackle.

Winger Brennan Dickenson was then a whisker away just before the half hour when a patient and slightly scrappy build-up concluded with it being rolled back in his direction. It was a rasper, Killip was beaten, but it ripped just past the angle of post and bar.

Patrick tried his luck from distance as a four-man United break appeared to have broken down when a through ball from Gibson was stopped. The striker kept it in play but Killip saw the attempt from distance early and gathered it in.

Guy did well to stop a sprint from a Molyneux flick from Holohan coming to anything in what was a sticky period for both teams. He got in the way and forced the foul before the shot could be taken.

Kelvin Mellor had to be taken off when Carver landed awkwardly on top of his ankle, and that meant a prolonged spell and a first league appearance for new arrival Joel Senior.

Patrick had a great chance to open the scoring on 37 minutes when a long kick forward glanced his way. He took a touch and volleyed it with power, but Killip made a two-handed parry.

The Blues came again thanks to tenacity from Mellish, and a low cross was cut out by Liddle. Guy was first to the loose ball and a 23-yard grasscutter beat the dive from the stopper, but also flashed past the upright.

A Jon Melliish inspired move started with the midfielder regaining possession in his own half. He bundled through two challenges, then bounced it off Patrick, and that gave the forward room to pull the ball back. Gibson was closed down quickly and a hurried poke lobbed past the nets.

Hartlepool had been quiet up front, but Carver was suddenly clean through as Molyneux found a yard in a dangeorus area. He went for venom but he dragged his stinger well wide. 

Wide man Jordan Gibson dropped a shoulder to step inside from the left flank at the start of the second period and he wasn't too far away as he curled one with his right foot from 17-yards. Killip was relieved to see it go past his post.

The Blues were awarded a free kick dead central and on the edge of the area when Odusina stopped an Omotoye bullet with his arm. Dickenson beat the wall, but it struck the underside of the bar and crashed down inside the six-yard box. Patrick was onto the rebound but his effort was blocked.

A header from Byrne went well wide when he was found by Ferguson with an outswinger of a delivery. Feeney did well to make life difficult.

Senior overlapped after good work from Alessandra invited an attack, but his cross ws gobbled up by the alert keeper. Blue shirts pressed to win it back, and Gibson was suddenly in a very dangerous position. He made space for a shot from 17-yards but Killip was ready for it.

Another run from Senior earned a corner, as he took on two, but the corner from Dickenson was headed clear. 

Good, quick passing deserved an end product with 15 minutes left to play as Gibson, Patrick and Armer made their way through the pack. The cross was neat from the left back but Killip was comfortable with the catch.

There was a wonder save from Howard when Molyneux delivered low and into space as Pools sent numbers forward. It seemed to spend an age rolling behind the onrushing players until Ferguson pounced. He kept it low, and caught it sweetly, but the keeper spread himself. It came off his legs and onto the bar, and the defence regrouped to close the door.

Killip was in action again when Gibson spun to put Armer into the box. He punched the ball into the ground and saved again when Mellish tried to put it away.

The ball was played from left to right and back again as Carlisle went for it, and Dickenson was upended 23-yards out. Guy took charge of the free kick, but it hit the wall and flew into the Warwick.

Dickenson's corner was a real teaser, as it took a touch off Alessandra at the front stick, but it fell kindly for Shelton and he swiped it high.

Another incisive move saw Gibson and Armer exchange passes, and their deft touches allowed Mellish to spin and shoot at close range. Killip blocked twice, and the final touch from Mellish took it into the side netting.

Rain pelted down and a strong wind blew as time added on ticked by, and Howard was needed again when he produced a fantastic reaction save from a downward header from Ogle in an attack that turned out to be the last action of the night.

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Gibson (89)

Hartlepool United - Odusina (51)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Howard, Mellor (Senior 36), McDonald, Feeney, Armer, Gibson, Guy (c), Dickenson, Mellish, Omotoye (Alessandra 66), Patrick. Subs - Norman (gk), Devine, Riley, Abrahams, Whelan.

Hartlepool United - Killip, Ferguson, Liddle, Odusina, Featherstone (c), Molyneux (Grey 88), Carver (Cullen 53), Holohan, Byrne, Ogle, Crawford (Shelton 66). Subs - Boyes (gk), Hull, Smith, Hendrie.

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Match officials

Referee - Ollie Yates
Assistant Referee 1 - Gary Hilton
Assistant Referee 2 - Peter Gooch
Fourth Official - Matthew Dicicco
Observer - David Phillips

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Attendance - 4,570 (613)