United hosted Hartlepool for their rearranged fixture on Tuesday night.

It had been a 10-day break since the last outing following Saturday's frozen pitch postponement at Bradford, and manager Paul Simpson stuck with the same eleven he'd used against Newport the previous weekend.

New arrival Joe Garner was on the bench, primed to make 'debut' number four for the club.

United's first attack of the night was a patient one, in the second minute, sparked by a beauty of a floated pass from Huntington. Armer controllled, Guy, Moxon, Senior and Gibson got involved, but the cross was cut out.

Carlisle were on the front foot once again as Gordon burst through from deep, and Gibson used Armer on the overlap when he accepted a neat ball. There were players in the box, but the delivery was put behind.

Moxon took charge of the corner and Dennis pulled off his man to get the flick. Killip parried as it came at his feet, but Morgan Feeney was first to react with a stabbed close-range finish - his second goal of the season.

Another dangerous set piece saw Moxon go deeper with a real dipper. Killip had to stretch to punch it away.

There was defending to do for United as a long throw came towards Hamilton, but his first touch was heavy and the clearance was made.

It was almost spectacular from Gordon on 15 minutes when Gibson rolled a pass into the box. Pruti slipped, leaving a gap, and the Palace forward flicked it up before going for the scissor kick. It lacked power and Killip bent to gather.

The Pools goal lived a charmed life after Gordon had shielded it with his back to goal moments later. Armer asked for it, and the back heel invited the cross. Killip got his bearings wrong and he flapped at it as he stepped back onto his line. Dennis threw a boot at the loose ball, but it hit the post, hit the keeper, and then hit the post once more when the club's top scorer got another touch.

There was only going to be one outcome on 26 minutes as the Blues carved the visitors apart. A tasty pass from Guy released Mellish, and he was free and clear on the left flank. His cross was scuffed at the front stick, and the predatory Kristian Dennis said thank you very much for his sixteenth of the season, a guided finish into the nets.

But the away side were gifted a goal almost straight from the restart as Moxon hesitated, then turned towards his own box. An underhit back pass was snapped up by Josh Umerah and he crunched it low and hard and under the dive from Holy.

Dennis arrowed a clean strike from distance with United looking to settle after the setback, but Killip was able to claim it as it rose above his head.

Determined work from Gordon took him through challenges tight by the corner flag at the Waterworks End, and he was eventually upended. A training ground routine saw Moxon release it gently for Dennis to hit. He was closed down and the moment was gone.

There was some excellent football on show from the home team, with constant quick and slick exchanges of short piercing passes in a first half they had largely dominated.

Hartlepool had an early corner in the second half, but it was comfortably marshalled as Huntington and Feeney got touches.

It was the visitors who fashioned the first chance of the half when Niang got on the end of high ball into the area. His header was going in until Holy got down to push it away.

Carlisle had the Pools nets under real pressure on the hour mark when a header from Feeney set Gordon on a run. He beat his man and delivered, and Dennis challenged twice for the looping ball. It appeared to be going over the line as everyone looked for the final touch, but it somehow stayed out.

There was almost another Guy wonder goal moments later when he took an awkward pass on the chest. Strength made space for the 20-yard volley, and Killip had to readjust his feet to tip it over the bar and into the supporters in the Warwick.

The two-goal lead was regained on 66 minutes with yet another superb piece of football. Gibson spotted Moxon in acres of space as United broke, and the pinpoint pass was plucked out of the air on the end of a toe. Moxon put Dennis through, but the forward surprised everybdoy when he passed on the opportunity to shoot. Midfielder Moxon was brought back into play, and his cross was expertly headed in - goal number 17 - by the delighted Dennis.

Feeney had to block with his body as Pools looked for another immediate response, and Omari Patrick was on to provide another type of threat with just under 20 minutes left to play.

It was almost goal number four for the night for the Blues on 75 minutes when Moxon broke the lines to feed Dennis. His first effort was blocked, and Killip went full length to stop the second. Senior was first to the rebound but the stopper recovered to make a second decent save.

There was an excellent reception for the return of Garner, and the introduction of McCalmont, on 79 minutes, and it looked a dangerous front line as it was worked from left to right. Senior dropped a shoulder to get away from his man but he couldn't keep it down.

Garner was typically tenacious with a challenge on Menayesse that regained possession, leaving the wide man on the floor as Moxon broke. Killip picked up at the near post when the low cross came in, with the felled player requiring treatment. He was eventually stretchered off the pitch. 

It was almost on a plate for Garner when Patrick sprinted up the right wing having taken a clearance from Moxon. He delivered, but there was the slightest of touches from Ferguson just as the substitute leaped to meet it.

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Match Sponsor - Pirelli
Match Ball Sponsor - KC Superbikes

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Goals

Carlisle United - Feeney (6), Dennis (26, 66)

Hartlepool United - Umerah (28)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Holy, Feeney (c), Huntington, Mellish, Senior, Gibson (McCalmont 79), Guy, Moxon, Armer, Dennis (Garner 79), Gordon (Patrick 73). Subs - Kelly, Whelan, Devitt, Robinson.

Hartlepool United - Killip, Ferguson, Niang (Grey 67), Featherstone (c) (Sylla 82), Umerah, Pruti (McDonald 76), Dolan (Hastie 82), Hamilton, Menayesse, Dodds (Sterry 76), Hartley. Subs - Stolarczyk, Murray.

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Match officials

Referee - Sam Barrott
Assistant Referee 1 - Helen Edwards
Assistant Referee 2 - Lewis Raper
Fourth Official - Andy Haines
Observer - Jeff Ward

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Attendance - 5,172 (342)