Paul Simpson named an unchanged side following the flowing footballing display at Whaddon Road last weekend calling for more of the same from a group of players brimming with confidence.
Martin Ling went with the fit again Jabo Ibehre supporting the prolific Alexander in a bid to continue his teams very impressive away record.
There is no better way to start a game than with an early goal and United duly obliged in the 4th minute when Lumsdon collected the ball in midfield. Hawley was making a good run, peeling away from his marker, and took the pass well as he headed towards the goal line.
He needed someone to show and the blue shirts flooded forwards in support. Finding a great cross in to the danger area Brendan McGill managed to find a path between two defenders, connecting with a strong left footed volley. Garner got to it but he had no chance, and could only watch it in to the net.
Orient were stung and immediately tried to respond, getting in to attacking positions quickly. Orient's longest serving player Matt Lockwood thought he'd equalised in the 5th minute when he broke through and drove his shot goalwards. Arnison cleared it with the top of his shoulder as he dived across the goal but there were a chorus of penalty appeals from the visiting team.
Carlisle were looking dangerous going forward in the early exchanges and Brendan McGill was next to get in to the box in search of the bye line. He found another decent cross and the O's failed to clear, inviting Adam Murray to go for broke. Unfortunately he scuffed his shot and Miller was able to sweep it away.
The visitors certainly weren't shell shocked by the goal and they capitalised as Carlisle sat back and waited in the 10th minute. Lockwood didn't need to be asked twice and he raced forward then crossed towards the back post. Aranalde had allowed Alexander to steal a yard and the big attacker took full advantage, heading downwards and in to the back of the net to level the scores.
The very effective target of Alexander in the box made things very difficult for the Cumbrians as Orient took control in midfield and he was certainly a useful outlet for the ball forward in a period of play that was shaky, to say the least, for a nervous Carlisle side.
United didn't get forward again until the 24th minute and could, had things gone for them, have restored their lead. Adam Murray looked up from wide right and sent a lovely ball in to the area for Chris Lumsdon to run on to. It all looked very good until, at the vital moment, he stumbled and lost control of the ball.
Leyton Orient were by far the more comfortable in a first half that was largely being dictated by them and they were disappointed with Alexander in the 27th minute when he sent a header wide, with probably more time than he realised to pick his spot.
A very good period of pressure led to a penalty in the 33rd minute for the visitors, but it all started with Ibehre and Easton carving a way through a disinterested Carlisle defence. Ibehre it was who had the final shot but he really should have done better, allowing Williams to push it away for a corner. There was to be no respite as the Cumbrians failed to clear the ball, eventually giving Alexander enough room on the right to move the ball. Keith picked up on it and drew a desperate challenge from Gray, leaving the referee with an easy decision to make as he pointed to the spot. Matt Lockwood despatched it with a crisp effort that was never going to be saved by Williams.
It got even worse on 36 minutes when a midfield that were playing like strangers allowed Orient to break away. Ibehre was able to time his run and crashed the ball beyond Williams in the United goal to heap the misery on what was a poor performance thus far.
Nade and McGill tried to make things happen with a couple of probing runs as half time approached but it was tepid stuff, and Garner was having a very comfortable time of things. The big question, of course, was how were Carlisle going to change things for the second period?
Half Time: United 1 - 3 Orient
Simpson wasted no time at all in making a change and sent Glenn Murray out for the second half, replacing midfielder Adam Murray, giving Carlisle three striking options up front.
United needed a spark but it was another patchy start to the half as players found it difficult to find each other. The 51st minute brought a decent opening for Glenn Murray when Aranalde drifted in from the left. A good cross came to the substitute but his volley was blocked as it appeared to be angling towards the net.
Although better from United there was still little sign of them breaking through as the O's stayed disciplined and organised. In addition, and always in the background, was the threat from the pace of Ibehre on the break, something that seemed to keep a bit of a lid on United's attacking prowess.
There was a glimmer of hope on 65 minutes as Nade won a throw down by the corner flag and, as the ball flew in to the area, Lumsdon and Simpson challenged for it just 5 yards from goal. It glanced off the defender and Garner was in the right place to grasp it when, had it gone just an inch or two either side of him, it would almost definitely have been a goal.
United stayed forward and a slick turn by Hawley looked to have opened a scoring route until Miller got himself in the way. McGill was screaming for a pass but it was weak and misplaced, leaving the nippy winger with too much to do when he had worked himself a very good position.
With a two goal deficit to make up it should have been all hands to the pumps but Orient had very little to trouble them as they controlled the pace and direction of the game. Peter Murphy nearly opened his account for the season shortly after replacing Nade but the woodwork denied him. McGill and Lumsdon had created the opening but the 18 yard effort was scooped to safety after crashing back off the upright.
Hawley never dropped his work rate, Murray never stopped running up front and the midfield never stopped trying to make things happen but it just wasn't clicking in an afternoon where far too many just weren't on the pace of the game.
Glenn Murray picked up a decent round of applause as he showed some real attacking intent in the 86th minute as he turned his marker but, with options left and right, he shot weakly and wide of the target.
Deep in to injury time Peter Murphy scored a beauty as he was played through by McClen, just inside the angle of the 18 yard box. With a clear site of the target he blasted the ball low and hard, and left Garner flapping at thin air as he gave the home fans a glimmer of hope that they could come away with something from this game.
It wasn't to be though and, if we're honest, there can be very few complaints about that. It was one of those really strange afternoons where nothing would go for the home team, no matter how much they put in to it and no matter how hard they tried. It continues to be Jekyll and Hyde from Carlisle as they go from strength to strength on the road but find it a bit of a struggle at home. Hopefully the big crowd will keep it in context and focus on the progress that is being made, rather than the disappointment of the defeat, and come back again in the same numbers. United have an immediate opportunity to put things right with the trip to Chester just a couple of days away, and another home game next Saturday. Fingers crossed we bounce back in style.
Goals
United - McGill (4), Murphy (90)
Orient - Alexander (10), Lockwood (33 pen), Ibehre (36)
Bookings
Orient - Miller (74)
Teams
United - Williams, Arnison, Gray, Livesey, Aranalde, McGill, A Murray (G Murray 45), Billy (McClen 80), Lumsdon, Nade (Murphy 70), Hawley. Not Used - Beharall, Westwood.
Orient - Garner, Lockwood, Simpson, Mackie, Easton, Alexander, Keith, Zakuani, Miller, Tudor (Carlisle 71), Ibehre. Not Used - Barnard, Morris, McMahon, Echanomi.
