United travelled to Sixfields on the back of 9 points out of 12 from a Christmas holiday programme that had put them within shouting distance of a Play Off place, and which had made them one of the form teams in the Division.

Paul Arnison returned for this important League One fixture against a Cobblers side struggling to make an impression at home, making his first start since 21 October in the 1-0 home win over Tranmere and replacing the suspended Dave Raven.

Danny Graham kept his place up front, along side Gall and Hawley, with Neale McDermott also getting the nod to continue his impressive run in midfield.

New Cobblers Boss Stuart Gray made just one change to his starting line up, bringing Brett Johnson in to the centre of his defence for the absent Chris Doig. 

United's travelling support did their bit to stoke the atmosphere up prior to kick off but it was Northampton who broke first when Burnell dinked a ball over the top. Kirk ran on to it, laying it back for Crowe, but his deep cross had too much on it for McGleish to get to.

The Cumbrians were almost caught from their own corner in the 4th minute when Dyche got a strong clearance, finding the nippy Eoin Jess. He raced away, with two players in support, but Kev Gall had spotted the danger and was able to clear behind for the corner when the dangerous cross was delivered. 

An Aranalde throw in the 9th minute brought some consternation for the Cobblers defence when he whipped it in at head height, looking for Kev Gray. Dyche got half a clearance on it, but McDermott was first to react as he tried to get the bouncing ball under control. It wouldn't settle for him though, and Chambers was eventually able to swipe it clear.

Bradley Johnson forced Westwood to push the ball over the bar on 11 minutes when his cross was caught by the wind, sending it curling towards the woodwork. The big keeper took no risks, putting it behind for the corner.

The blue shirts needed to concentrate at that one as Holt made the ball his own from a wicked delivery, and two blocks followed as both Gray and Livesey got their bodies in the way. Joe Burnell was the last to have an effort during the brief flurry, with his shot being thwarted by Aranalde.

United mounted a good attack of their own in the 14th minute when Hawley trapped a long ball forward, 30 yards out. He spun, releasing Gall on the right, but his early cross was taken well by Bunn at the near post.

Staying forward, Chris Lumsdon used it well when he spotted Danny Graham on the overlap. The young forward burst in to the box and drilled a low cross across the face of goal, bringing a rushed clearance from Dyche. It took two attempts for the big defender to get rid of it as Hawley closed in to pounce.

The Cobblers bounced back with a very good spell of possession that saw them stretch the United back line. It started on 18 minutes when McGleish won the ball off Gray and fed it out wide for the run of Crowe. He had options, and decided to go for glory with a shot towards the bottom corner. Aranalde, yet again, was the man with the block.

Confusion reigned from the corner as the wind prevented any kind of decisive clearance, and the back line was left flat footed when the ball was stabbed through to McGleish just 16 yards out. He set himself to strike, but Westwood was quick out of the blocks and was able to pull off a wonder save that preserved his sides clean sheet.

At the other end, Hawley tried one from distance when Graham won a nod down, but his 30 yard volley had just too much on it to allow it to dip beneath the bar.

United used it well in the 39th minute when a patient build up on the right saw Arnison and Gall exchange passes as they worked their way forward. The latter threaded a superb pass in to the path of Hawley as the Cobblers stayed high, but his shot was easy for Bunn who was able to gather it at head height.

A very evenly matched first half was to end cruelly for the Cumbrians when Kev Gall was tripped in midfield, losing possession. Referee Mr Graham, who was having an inconsistent game, waved play on, much to the disgust of the United bench. With United pushed forward, Andy Kirk was able to run in to space, taking just one touch to get in to the box and a second to drill it beyond Westwood and in to the bottom corner to register his first goal since September.

Aranalde had a 22 yard free kick blocked in time added on and Danny Graham sent the rebound over the bar, but it was a disgruntled and aggrieved Carlisle United who headed off down the tunnel.

Half Time: Northampton 1 - 0 United

The start to the second half couldn't have been worse for the Cumbrians as they were left looking at the Assistant Referee for an offside decision that just wasn't coming.

Andy Holt started the move with a 30 yard run that culminated with a floated back post cross, and Eoin Jess saw his fierce volley diverted in to the back of the net by Scott McGleish, who looked very close to being the wrong side of the last defender. Yet again the decision went with the home side and the deficit was increased to two goals.

McGleish almost capitalised on hesitant defending two minutes later when Arnison took a knock on the head, leaving a gap to be exploited. The officials ignored the injury, and Westwood was needed to get across for a fumbled effort from the Cobblers front man, who was under pressure from Gray.

Northampton were having some early joy down the United left and a Crowe cross on 53 minutes was perfect for the predatory McGleish to rise on to. He had time and space to pick the spot but his header flew just inches wide, with Westwood beaten. Crowe was the provider again a minute later, finding Kirk at the front post this time, but his volley was weak and right at the keeper.

Carlisle thought they'd pulled themselves back in to it on 56 minutes when Lumsdon curled a fantastic free kick in to the box. Livesey won it firmly, heading towards the top corner, and it took a flying parry from Bunn to keep it out. Dyche then tried to head it clear, succeeding only in sending it back towards his own goal line, and he was relieved to see Johnson volley it away as it threatened to creep in.

Kev Gall would go close with a rasping 20 yard volley in the 65th minute when he wrapped his foot around a looping clearance from 20 yards, but Bunn was able to watch it wide despite the theatrical dive.

Carlisle were using their possession well following the second goal, without creating the elusive clear cut chance, and they were made to pay in the 71st minute when Eion Jess produced a stinger for Westwood to deal with. The United stopper got down to it, but McGleish was there to blast the rebound in to the roof of the net and make it 3-0.

It just wasn't Carlisle's day, a fact that was hammered home in the 73rd minute when Danny Graham did everything right inside the opposition 18 yard box. Twisting and turning he managed to thunder his shot through the bodies, only to see Bunn get down smartly and execute a wonderful save.

The home side were happy to sit back more, inviting Carlisle in, and Holmes nearly sprung the lock on 75 minutes when he lobbed a neat pass on to the head of Gall. His flick on saw Hawley bearing down, but Bunn was out quickly to take it off his toes.

The Cumbrians deserved a goal and they were to claim a spectacular effort in the 81st minute as they tore the home defence apart. Danny Graham started it when he spun his man, 30 yards out, and fed the ball out to Gall. He put his head down and went for power, forcing another save from Bunn but, on this occasion, Danny Graham was first to it, making no mistake as he buried it in the roof of the net from 14 yards.

Kirk nearly restored the cushion as the game became end to end, trying to force a McGleish cross under the body of Westwood, but it dribbled wide with the keeper prostrate on the floor. Straight back up the other end and Carlisle were to make things very nervy in the closing stages when Graham pumped the ball in to Kev Gall. It took him two goes, but he sent the fans behind the goal wild when he made it 3-2.

A frantic finish to the game saw both teams attacking with purpose, and it was an unlucky Carlisle side who left the field with nothing to show for another battling display.

Bookings

Cobblers - Burnell (35)

United - McDermott (16), Gray (29), Gall (45), Aranalde (66), Holmes (87)

Goals

Cobblers - Kirk (44), McGleish (47) (71)

United - Graham (81), Gall (86)

Teams

Northampton - Bunn, Crowe, Holt, Chambers, Kirk, McGleish, Jess, Burnell (Bojic 82), Brett Johnson, Dyche, Bradley Johnson. Subs - Aiston, Hunt, Dunn, Quinn.

United - Westwood, Arnison, Gray, Livesey, Aranalde, McDermott (Holmes 70), Lumsdon, Thirlwell, Gall, Hawley, Graham. Subs - Williams, Billy, Joyce, Krause.

Away fans - 747