It was one of the Football League games of the day at the Matchroom Stadium in East London this afternoon as two of the League Two pace setters came head to head in a mouthwatering clash.

Paul Simpson brought Williams and Rivers back to the bench, keeping Livesey on standby also, whilst Orient made 4 changes to their starting eleven from their last match.

Carlisle started brightly, accompanied by the very vocal travelling support, and Lumsdon capitalised on some slack marking when he picked Hawley out with a long ball in the 3rd minute. He raced onwards to the bye line and cut the ball back in to the area, sliding it just behind the onrushing Michael Bridges.

At the other end a high free kick in to the box was punched clear by Westwood, but Tudor was in position to gather it. Murphy was across quickly to block the shot and clear his lines.

Another good pass from midfield, this time from Billy, again found Hawley free on the right. He cut inside but drilled a low shot straight at Glyn Garner.

On 6 minutes Derek Holmes pulled a great bit of skill out of the hat when he controlled a Murphy free kick on the edge of the box. A good touch with his chest enabled him to spin and turn, forcing a save from the O's keeper.

The Cumbrians thought they'd opened the scoring twice in the 8th minute when a superb corner came in from the right. Bridges got the first flick, that Garner could only parry, needing defenders to sweep it away. Peter Murphy took the half clearance down, volleying from 25 yards, and Garner had to scramble across to tip it around the post.

A shout for a Carlisle penalty was turned down in the 10th minute when Hawley played Bridges in to the area. Lockwood clipped his heels as the ball ran away harmlessly, and the referee ignored the striker's remonstrations.

In a game that was being played at pace Tudor was to see another volley deflected behind for a corner as his side pushed forward with more purpose and Alexander brought the same end result when he raced clear down the right 60 seconds later.

An excellent, incisive build up from the home side saw Miller get a sight on goal, but he dragged a powerful shot wide from just outside the box in the 13th minute.

Craig Easton was next to go very close when he connected with a floated pass and crashed his left footed effort inches wide.

The O's were having a good spell and Joe Keith ghosted his way beyond two before squaring it for Easton 18 yards out. He put his head down and went for it, bringing a block from Gray that may well have come back off his hands.

United were being made to work and, on 23 minutes, it was Keith again who would work his way in to a shooting position. It was accurate but he found one of his own players in the way, saving Westwood any work.

Orient were very effective on the break and Adam Murray tracked back, taking an open goal opportunity away from Tudor as they threatened to force their way through after a strong run from Alexander.

A huge kick from Westwood put United on the front foot again in the 30th minute when he saw Bridges one on one up front. Bridges controlled beautifully, sending a pass back towards Holmes, and he brought a tip over the bar from the backtracking Gly Garner in the Orient goal.

Peter Murphy was next to tear the home team open with a raking 40 yard pass that set Bridges on a run. His first touch was good, but Zakuani was back quickly to snuff out the moment.

The best moment of the opening 45 minutes for Orient came in the 38th minute when Matt Lockwood broke free on the left. His low, driven cross was met by Connor just 8 yards out, but Westwood made himself big and blocked the initial effort. Reacting quickly he sprung up and smothered the ball as Alexander came in search of an easy follow up.

Carlisle had a goal chalked out just before half time when the referee spotted some kind of infringement as Lumsdon found the head of Holmes at a corner. Garner was beaten by the neat touch, but the official kept his sheet clean for him with a blow on his whistle.

The very enjoyable half finished with flourishes at either end and with both sides having shown why they are up at the top of the table.

Half Time: Orient 0 - 0 United

Karl Hawley would have the first shooting chance of the second half when he controlled a ball out of defence from Aranalde in the 49th minute. With runners left and right he went for it himself, rifling a left foot shot just over from 22 yards.

Lockwood brought panic to the Carlisle back line in the 53rd minute when he got deep before crossing low. Murphy was eventually able to clear it as red shirts flooded the box.

It was still a finely balanced affair as defences stood strong and chances were limited in what was becoming a tense game. Craig Easton made Westwood tip over his own bar with a 60th minute 25 yard free kick and Bridges was almost through two minutes later, only to see Mackie get a toe in the way of his through pass towards Holmes.

Ibehre and Glenn Murray were introduced as new attacking options in the 67th minute just after Westwood had gathered low from a Zakuani header as he bossed his way to the ball from a Lockwood corner.

Alexander popped a header from a first time McMahon cross over the bar in the 70th minute and Lockwood kept the pressure on without managing to find a telling cross. Mark Rivers came on to replace Bridges with 20 minutes to go as the attacker went straight down the tunnel with an ice pack.

McMahon was left screaming for a penalty in the 73rd minute when a half cleared corner came out to him 20 yards from goal. He struck it fiercely, seeing it deflect away, and was convinced it had come off a hand.

Peter Murphy, who was having a huge influence in the centre of the defence, somehow got himself in the way of a rasping shot from Simpson in the 80th minute. His thigh was enough to send the goalbound effort over the bar.

United were sitting ever deeper and there was some desperate defending as white shirts threw themselves in the way of everything. Arnison stopped a full throttle smasher from McMahon in the 82nd minute and the same player brought an Ibehre and Lockwood one two passing move to an abrupt conclusion in the O's next attack.

Karl Hawley had options in the 88th minute when he trapped a long ball from defence but he went for the top corner as Rivers and Glenn Murray overlapped left and right.

Impressive skill from Ibehre won his side a corner right at the death but it was an afternoon that was destined to end in a draw for two very good teams.

This was an exciting, absorbing game of football played at a high tempo and with plenty of passion and skill on show. The draw was a fair result, despite the fact that Carlisle had sat deep at the end. Both the players and the fans can feel proud of themselves for what they did today, and this is a point that could prove to be massive for both teams come the reckoning.

Bookings

Orient - Simpson (27)

United - Aranalde (37), Bridges (59), Westwood (90)

Teams

Orient - Garner, Lockwood, Simpson, Mackie, Easton, Alexander (Steele 75), Keith, Zakuani, Miller, Tudor (McMahon 45), Connor (Ibehre 67). Not Used - Tann, Morris.

United - Westwood, Arnison, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Billy, Lumsdon, A Murray, Holmes (G Murray 67, (Hackney 90)), Hawley, Bridges (Rivers 71). Not Used - Williams, Livesey.

Travelling fans - 987