Fielding an unchanged side for the fourth game in a row Carlisle had the opening chance in the fifth minute when Zoko's chipped cross to the far-post saw Madine's header blocked by Danny Woodards, Madine then whacking the rebound wide. With the Dons passing the ball around at a leisurely pace they speeded things up after 17 minutes when they went extremely close to opening the scoring.
Left-back Dean Lewington smacking in an excellent shot from 20 yards out that bounced back down off the underside of Adam Collin's crossbar, Collin then making a good save with his legs as Jermaine Easter tried to slide home the loose ball, Berrett then completing the clearance for United. Didier Hamann then slicing a volley from an Angelo Balanta corner horribly wide on 37 minutes as very little was happening in the game attacking-wise.
Zoko then flicked a ball on for Craig Curran moments later but his shot from a tight angle flew into the side-netting as the game really exploded into life with 39 minutes gone. Ian Harte and Easter getting into a tussle as Easter went to the floor with the Dons players and coaching staff adamant that the Carlisle defender had thrown an elbow, only for referee Mark Heywood to surprisingly award the free-kick United's way.
The Blues then took the lead three minutes before the break when Berrett's corner was headed down by Madine for a Zoko deflected half-volley from 15 yards out that flew in past a startled David Martin. That incensing Dons manager Karl Robinson even more as he was eventually sent to the stands following a boot of a water bottle and a lot of shouting at the officials.
His mood in the Brunton Park directors' box no doubt getting worse when the home side made it 2-0 two minutes into first-half injury time. Madine again being the provider as he nodded down a Frankie Simek cross into the path of Berrett. The former Huddersfield midfielder then able to easily steer the ball into the back of the Dons net from close range.
With 52 minutes on the clock James Chester headed a Berrett corner wide, before Carlisle did make it 3-0 shortly afterwards. Zoko first slamming a shot against the Dons near-post from a tight angle before his deflected cross back in looped back down to the right boot of Madine for a well placed volleyed finish low into the far corner of the visitors goal.
United then just after the hour-mark remarkably making it 4-0 as Zoko did well on the far by-line to get past Stephen Gleeson before putting a ball across that Madine laid back nicely into the path of Tom Taiwo eight yards out. Taiwo's shot from there just sneaking into the roof of the net off Lewington as the Dons left-back looked to clear the ball off the line.
Bringing the physical presence of Jabo Ibehre on upfront seemed to improve the visitors in the last half hour, and they pulled a goal back after 65 minutes. Peter Leven's excellent long-range strike fairly flying past Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin on its way into the far bottom corner of the home net. Easter then going close moments later with a cross-shot as the Dons began to exert some pressure with United visibly taking their foot off the gas.
Midway through the half and Berrett found Curran with a through ball, but Curran's shot was weak and straight at Martin. Penrith-born Dons substitute Lewis Guy then fired a powerful strike inches wide from 20 yards out, and then Carlisle replacement Matty Robson cut in well past three from the left only to fire his right-footed shot well over the top from the edge of the box.
Curran then found himself clear through on goal again three minutes from time but once more his strike on goal went straight at the body of Martin. Play then going up the other end two minutes later as Sam Baldock lashed in a half-volley that brought a slightly bizarre punched save out of Collin at his near-post. Collin then needing to take two attempts to hold onto a low deflected Leven shot moments later as Guy looked to race in on any potential rebound.
The last chance for the Dons to pull another goal back in front of the 5,205 spectators coming three minutes into injury time when Easter was brought down by Chester for a free-kick 20 yards out. Leven though seeing his shot straight from the set-piece deflect away off the Carlisle defensive wall as the home side saw out a comfortable victory following the Dons self-combustion on the Harte non-sending off late in the first-half.