It was the relatively short trip to the Suits Direct Stadium for the Blues on Saturday afternoon.

Former United boss Keith Curle was the man in charge of the hosts, and Carlisle gaffer Paul Simpson went with an unchanged starting eleven for a third game in a row.

Striker Ryan Edmondson was back on the bench following his injury lay-off, with Nic Bollado the player to take a step back. 

It was a lively atmosphere and Huntington stopped an early cross from Ferguson when he got up in support of McDonald, and that sparked a break as Gibson ran free. Crawford was booked when he chopped the wide man to the floor.

The free kick from Moxon was cleared as far as Guy, and he slipped a neat pass through to Mellish, who had stayed onside on the edge of the area. His touch was heavy and Killip gratefully gathered.

A deep delivery from Ferguson found Hamilton on the leap, as he arrived late at the other end, but the ball skimmed off his head and spun well wide of the upright.

Strength from Moxon saw him win the ball tight by the touchline and his subsequent run left two in his wake. His reverse pass was cleared but United came again when Huntington cleared his lines. Dennis and Gibson combined, but the winger was stopped in his tracks as he approached the 18-yard box.

Huntington popped a header straight at Killip from an outswinging Moxon set piece, as the game remained poised and ready to spring into action, and that almost happened on 15 minutes when Back got onto a high ball into the area from Armer. His cushioned header was perfect for Gibson, but Killip spread himself to make a superb point-blank save off the volley.

Pools had a spell of pressure as they looked to make a mark, but Armer, Huntington and Mellish intervened with clearances to keep them at arm's length. 

Moxon took matters into his own hands once again as he chested the ball down when it came his way with 20 minytes gone. He shrugged off two challenges, but opted to bring Dennis into play just as it opened up in front of him. Two defenders converged to smother the move.

Another good opening was fashioned as a corner was cleared only as far as Guy. Gibson stayed onside when a floated pass came his way, but he seemed to be caught in two minds as he sent it off into the stands behind the goal.

United were guilty of snatching at it once again when Killip came off his line to get fingertips to a wicked Moxon dipper. It fell for Dennis to hit, but he miscued it and it bent wide.

Stretton was tugged as he then sprinted to get onto a through ball from deep, but the referee completely ignored it as the forward tumbled to the floor. Frustratingly an offence against Back was given within seconds for the same crime, much to the annoyance of the Carlisle bench.

Hesitation in the United box as a sliced, swirling ball bounced awkwardly was almost punished as Holy came, then stopped. Hamilton wanted it, as did McDonald, but Whelan stepped in to stop the nonsense.

Holy was at his absolute best with a double save from Umerah and Hamilton from the corner kick. Both stops were instinctive and when he had very little time to think. The offside flag didn't detract from the quality of the glovesmanship.

Sylia should have done better when he got on the end of a free kick from the halfway line from Ferguson. He had the target to aim at but he skied it from 14-yards when it looked easier to score.

The red shirts responded with a decent move with Guy and Gibson linking up to put Back on the overlap. He cleverly nipped it back inside but Gibson misjudged the roll of the ball and the first-time effort was swept away.

Gibson blazed wide from 19-yards as the Cumbrians enjoyed the bulk of the pressure, with Armer screaming at him to send it his way, and a Moxon inspired break came to nothing as Stretton and Armer had crosses blocked.

Pools took the lead just before the break from another free kick from almost half way up the pitch - the delivery and positioning a carbon copy of the earlier effort crafted by Ferguson. The intial delivery was blocked, but Umerah kept it alive. Alex Lacey was unmarked and he made no mistake from close range as he thrashed it into the roof of the net.

Hartlepool were out of the second half blocks quickly and Hamilton dragged one wide from distance as a half clearance sat up to be struck.

A long delay followed as Hamilton needed treatment, but Owen Moxon scored his second goal for the club immediately after the game restarted - and what a goal it was. Possession was turned over in midfield and he got his head down as he strode into space off the pass from Mellish. A measured, deliberate 20-yarder left Killip with no chance as it arrowed into his bottom corner.

The near 700 fans behind the goal were suddenly in fine voice, and Armer and Guy tried to find a path towards them. They were blocked out, and Pools responded by throwing men forward. Ferguson sent one from distance into Holy's hands.

Carlisle came again, thanks to determination from Mellish, with a run that took him from his own half onto the byline. His cross was cut out, but Stretton wanted it. A lunged intervention sent his toe poke over the bar.

Another neat United move eventually brought concern as Fin Back pulled up when he went in pursuit of a Guy pass. He held the back of his thigh with everyone fearing the worst. Ryan Edmondson was sent on to replace him.

A quieter period followed, but Moxon had a cross deflected behind via the crossbar with 20 minutes left to play. Umerah clipped one high when he was presented with an opening from the keeper's kick for the hosts.

There were loud appeals for a penalty as Huntington was hauled down as the second of two Moxon corners bent his way, but the referee said no and play went on.

Carlisle took the lead on 75 minutes and it was the decision to allow play to continue, when Moxon was clearly fouled as he stabbed the ball through. Omari Patrick sprinted onto it, kept his cool, checked once, then again, then drilled it low and past the dive to register his first goal of the campaign.

Brilliance all-round brought the third goal for the visitors as Holy threw the ball to Gibson. He looked up, still 10-yards inside his own half, and a flighted a wonder pass towards the edge of the box. Patrick chested it then popped it past the advancing keeper, before putting it over the line to claim his second of the day.

The lively forward was after a third, and he yet again left defenders standing as he took the ball on. His reverse pass was hooked by Murray before Dennis could pounce.

Huntington was immense at the other end when it looked like Umerah was clear. He recovered the ground before executing a precise sliding tackle.

Hartlepool fans started to stream out of the ground as the board went up for time added on, but there was more concern as Patrick also had to be substituted.

But that was for another day as the away fans celebrated a huge second half performance and a deserved three points.

+++++++

Goals

Hartlepool United - Lacey (44)

Carlisle United - Moxon (53), Patrick (75, 82)

+++++++

Bookings

Hartlepool United - Crawford (4)

Carlisle United - Guy (83)

+++++++

Teams

Hartlepool United - Killip, Tumilty, Murray, Lacey, Ferguson (c), Oduor (Hastie 80), Sylla, Crawford, McDonald, Umerah, Hamilton (Ndjoli 52). Subs - Letheren (gk), Paterson, Shelton, Grey, Cooke.

Carlisle United - Holy, Whelan (c), Huntington, Mellish, Back (Edmondson 61), Gibson, Guy, Moxon, Armer, Stretton (Patrick 66 (Harris 90)), Dennis. Subs - Kelly (gk), Feeney, Charters, Idehen.

+++++++

Match officials

Referee - Tom Reeves
Assistant Referee 1 - Christopher Ward
Assistant Referee 2 - Helen Edwards
Fourth Official - Stephen Wade
Observer - Clive Oliver

+++++++

Attendance - 5,525 (691)