Carlisle United comfortably beat Hornchurch 4-1 at Brunton Park to claim a crucial first victory of the season.
Miguel Azeez’s brilliant first-half strike, Harvey Bunker’s brace and Regan Linney’s first of the campaign proved to be the difference between the two sides, despite Joe Kizzi pulling a goal back for the visitors.
Rob Elliot made one change from last weekend’s draw at Yeovil with Jack Ellis replacing Cameron Harper.
United started with intent, both David Ajiboye and Linney had efforts well saved by Arthur Nasta within the first 10 minutes.
Linney, who was a constant menace throughout the match, was unfortunate not to score when he linked up well with Bunker before unleashing a powerful shot on goal which Nasta managed to push behind for a corner.
The Blues deservedly took the lead just past the half-hour mark through Azeez, who was first to react after Brad Nicholson’s long-throw was flicked away, before unleashing an unstoppable effort which flew past Nasta and into the back of the net.
After conceding, the Urchins reacted well and came close to levelling proceedings through Myles Weston whose curling effort was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Desbois.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-0 Hornchurch
United came flying out of the traps in the second-half and doubled their lead within a minute of the restart, Bunker finished off a brilliant team move with a lovely finish from outside the box.
Kizzi would half the deficit for Hornchurch after scrambling the ball past Desbois after getting on the end of deep corner-ball.
Desbois was called upon again soon after, he showed some superb reflexes to once again deny Weston and keep United's lead intact.
Bunker would get his second and United’s third of the afternoon after managing to volley Leo Duru’s delivery past Nasta to finish off another brilliant team move.
Regan Linney managed to round the afternoon off in style by opening his account for the season with a powerful hit past Nasta after the ball fell kindly to him in the box.
United’s player of the match, Bunker, came agonisingly close to completing his hat-trick in the dying minutes but was denied by Nasta who managed to tip his goal-bound header over the bar.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 4-1 Hornchurch
Teams:
Carlisle United: Desbois, Bunker, Azeez, Ajiboye (Skinner 63’), Kelly, Linney (Wearne 75’), Galvin, Nicholson (Feeney 75’), Duru (Williams 69’), Ellis (Harper 69’), Mullarkey
Not used: Mair, Atkinson
Hornchurch: Nasta, Inniss, Powell (Yearwood 77’), Baldwin (Greenidge 12’), Walker, Wraight (C), Hearn (Pegrum 63’), Sandat, Kizzi, Weston, Ling
Not used: Bryne, Ferguson, Edwards, Kelman
Goals:
Carlisle United: (Azeez 29’), (Bunker 46’, 66’), (Linney 75’)
Hornchuch: (Kizzi 51’)
Yellow Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Hornchurch: (Walker 87’)
Red Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Hornchurch: N/A
Attendance:
6,173 (109 away)
