On the subject of trialists it was Yannick Salem, who had spent an unsuccessful spell at Brunton Park in a bid to earn a contract late last month, who had the first chance of the game for the home side. The Congolese striker though seeing his shot ping back off Mark Gillespie's right-hand post with 11 minutes on the clock after County had moved forward well.
Two minutes later however and Carlisle took the lead when Ben Marshall finished off from close range as he got on the end of a Matty Robson cross into the box. The Hatters though equalising after 28 minutes when that man Salem was in the right place on the back of a ball into the Carlisle to penalty area to volley into the Blues net via Gillespie's woodwork.
Five minutes before half-time and United regained the lead when Kavanagh smacked home one of his trademark long-range drives. The Cumbrians then making it 3-1 at the break in the 43rd minute when Robson and Marshall linked up once more, Marshall again finishing off well from the Carlisle left-winger's delivery into the Hatters box for his second goal of the game.
It then took until the midway point in the second-half for the next goal to come when Blues trialist Morgan-Smith finished well one-on-one against the County goalkeeper, with Robson yet again claiming an assist on the strike. After 75 minutes it became 5-1 to United when on the break Marshall provided the pass for Jason Price to bulge the Hatters net for the fifth time.
With five minutes to go Stockport reduced the advantage to three goals when the man with a point to prove, in striker Salem, cracked an excellent shot in beyond the reach of Gillespie from fully 30 yards out. County also having the final word in a useful runout for both sides when they scored again in the 88th minute to leave the end scoreline at 5-3 to Carlisle.
United line-up :
Mark Gillespie, Tony Kane, Matt Osmond, Peter Murphy, Steven Swinglehurst, Graham Kavanagh, Ben Marshall, Kevan Hurst, Jason Price, Matty Robson, Amari Morgan-Smith.
Substitutes :
Jon Ball (GK), Mark Beck, Ryan Bowman and Lance McGlen.
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