Carlisle United defeated ten-man Forest Green Rovers 4-2 in a thrilling clash at Brunton Park.
A Regan Linney brace, alongside goals from Harvey Macadam and Georgie Kelly, secured the three points for the Blues despite strikes from Jayden Clarke and Harvey Bunker for the Green.
Laurent Mendy was also sent off in the second half for Robbie Savage’s side.
Linney showed early intent when he found space in the box to unleash an effort which was deflected wide.
Consecutive Clarke corners gave the United defence all sorts of problems, with Gabe Breeze having to be alert to block at his near post.
Clarke’s set-piece deliveries remained a threat, with Ryan Inniss heading wide from a deep free-kick.
The Blues took the lead in the 18th minute when Josh Williams flew down the left and found Chris Conn-Clarke, who slipped the ball to Linney to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Forest Green stopper Luke McNicholas produced a stunning save low to his right to deny Kelly after Linney had found the Irishman free in the box.
The visitors levelled the score in the 26th minute when Jili Buyabu dispossessed Cameron Harper and cut the ball back to Clarke to finish past Breeze.
Clarke came close to giving his side the lead in the 36th minute, firing a free kick narrowly wide of the right upright.
United retook the lead on the stroke of half-time when Linney pounced on a loose ball in midfield and powered through on goal before finding the bottom corner.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 2-1 Forest Green Rovers
Bunker brought the Green level in the 53rd minute, poking the ball past Breeze after being teed up by Isaac Moore.
Referee James Oldham showed Mendy a second yellow card in the 63rd minute when he lunged in on Linney to prevent him from racing through on goal.
Jack Ellis had a great chance to retake the lead when he received a cut back at the edge of the box, but blazed over.
Archie Davies flew down the right wing in the 81st minute, but his effort flew high over the bar.
Macadam fired United into the lead in the 86th minute, striding onto Linney’s pass and hammering the ball home.
The Blues were awarded a penalty in the 91st minute when Kelly was dragged to the ground in the penalty area, and he dispatched the following spot kick with ease to secure the win.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 4-2 Forest Green Rovers
Teams:
Carlisle United: Breeze, Davies, Hayden, Feeney, Harper, Grant (Ellis 60), Gilliead (Macadam 60), Conn-Clarke (Jones 60), Linney, Williams, Kelly
Unused subs: Lewis, Whelan, Ajiboye
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas, Kengni, Innniss, Mendy, Knowles, Clarke (Long 73), Bunker, Moore (Moore-Taylor 66), Buyabu (Bamba 83), Whitwell, Babolola (Doige 83)
Unused subs: Haughton, Pagel, Balagizi
Goals:
Carlisle United: (Linney 18, 45) (Macadam 86) (Kelly 91)
Forest Green Rovers: (Clarke 26) (Bunker 54)
Yellow Cards:
Carlisle United: (Kelly 5) (Conn-Clarke 14) (Gilliead 16) (Hayden 77)
Forest Green Rovers: (Babolola 38) (Mendy 48, 63) (Whitwell 65)
Red Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Forest Green Rovers: (Mendy 63)
Officials:
Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee 1 - Jake Topp
Assistant Referee 2 - Tyler Dutton
Fourth Official - Robert Claussen
Attendance:
8598 (124 away)
