The result was United's most emphatic in league games for almost 17 years. It also lifted them two points above bottom side Halifax and improved their goal difference considerably. The main hero of the day was veteran forward Ian Stevens who proved a point once again to his manager with a superb hat-trick, goals which took him past the half-century mark in a Carlisle shirt. The rout began as early as the second minute. Peter Murphy's probing pass down the left channel found Stevens galloping into space and he astutely turned his left-footed shot past Scott Barratt and into the opposite corner. The goal lifted United immediately and wave upon wave of attacks came crashing down on the Londoners. Steve Soley made it two-nil after just seven minutes. Stevens was the architect, grabbing a yard on his marker and streaking clear down the left and he picked out the onrushing midfield schemer who drilled home his shot from 10 yards into the top corner. The goals continued to fly in. Blink and you'd miss 'em. On 15 minutes Mark Birch poked the ball forward from the right touchline and Stevens was there again, instinctively running into the space to lift the ball over Barratt to make it three. Just two minutes later the referee Scott Mathieson decided Richie Foran had been pulled down in the box and pointed to the spot. Stevens might have been tempted to grab the ball but Foran the usual penalty taker took responsibilty and found the corner of the net despite a despairing hand from Barratt. Had United ever gone 4 up inside 20 minutes? Not in most people's lifetimes and the scoring wasn't over yet. On 32 minutes Stevens clipped home his third after his initial header from a Murphy cross had been parried by Barratt to leave the game well and truly over as a contest. United left the field to a standing ovation. It was hard to imagine a more complete first-half display. The second forty-five minutes were never going to be as one-sided and the visitors regrouped. However nippy Brendan McGill came close when his left-footed effort was palmed away by Barratt and shortly after Foran saw his toe-poke slither wide. Orient at last managed to put a bit of pressure together but time was beginning to run out when Wayne Gray got on the end of a pass to draw out Keen and clip the ball under his body to grab a consolation. The last laugh was still to be United's. Foran intelligently put McGill clear with a good pass and the winger drew out Barratt before clipping home with his left peg neatly into the corner. Six of the best. Al's verdict: Brilliant attacking football won the game for us inside the first 20 minutes. After that it was just a question of how many we could get. Such cavalier tactics are a poisoned chalice when used away from home, but at Brunton Park, when it comes off, it can be devastating, as today proved. Stevo's strikes were real striker's goals and it's hard to imagine a more crass decision than leaving him out as Collins did for weeks. All credit to the players today for going out and performing to their absolute best and not allowing a dangerous Orient side a sniff. |
