It's almost 10 and a half years since United last faced Crewe Alexandra in League football, with a Paul Conway goal enough to settle affairs on that occasion.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge for both sides since that April 1996 meeting, with Carlisle in particular enjoying a resurgence in fortunes over recent seasons.

Having suffered just one League defeat, the Cumbrians came to Gresty Road knowing that the Alex were enjoying their best form at home, and that a tough game lay ahead in what can be a cauldron of an atmosphere. The carrot dangling for United was that a win could see them claim top spot of League One, other results dependent of course.

Danny Livesey was brought in to the centre of defence by Neil McDonald, with the remainder of the starting eleven pretty much as was expected.

David Vaughan started things off with a weak effort with just 16 seconds on the clock as the kick off brought him half an opening outside the box. His poor connection made it easy for Westwood, who was grateful to be able to get an early feel of the ball.

There were always going to be chances in a game that had two attacking teams on show, but Carlisle were gifted their first chance by a mistake in midfield. Lumsdon pounced, sending Hawley one on one with Williams. Gall was also in attendance but the Cumbrian's top scorer tried to squeeze it beyond the keeper, forcing a great save that brought a corner. Hackney put that one in, finding Chris Billy unmarked, and it took a goal line clearance from a crashing drive to prevent the midfielder from opening his account for the season.

Billy Jones thought he'd sprung the offside trap in the 6th minute when he timed his break to leave the back line flat, but Kev Gall had tracked back and put the ball away for a corner before the shot could come in.

Luke Varney was next to spurn an excellent opportunity when a defensive mix up by Carlisle left him with a clear sight of goal. Varney had plenty of time but he also had Westwood in front of him. The Carlisle keeper refused to be rushed, staying big, and was able to pull off the save because of it. Chris Billy eventually completed the clearance, but it had been a warning shot across the bows for the away side, who now knew that they couldn't afford to relax at all in this one.

It was a decent spell for the Alex but they must have been concerned as they let another superb chance go begging in the 17th minute when Varney and Maynard combined. The latter was played in and could easily have picked his spot but, instead, he opted to delay and allowed Aranalde the luxury of getting back and blocking the attempt.

There was some good football on display yet again in what was an intriguing game of nip and tuck, and Chris Lumsdon gave a demonstration of just how confident he is when he took the ball from the half way line to a dangerous shooting position, 25 yards out. It took a parry from Williams and some hurried follow up defending to bring the move to an end.

Dogged persistence opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Hackney took himself off down the left wing. His crosses have been a source of good things for United in recent weeks and it was to prove to be the case again as his dipping centre was only half cleared by newly arrived substitute Darren Moss. Karl Hawley took one touch to set himself before drilling the ball beyond Williams to net his sixth goal of the season.

A free kick for Crewe less than a minute after the opener could easily have levelled the scores as Billy Jones stole a yard in the 6 yard box. He got his head to it, directing it towards the top corner, but Aranalde was there to deflect it for a corner. 

A tighter period of play saw Crewe push forward more and they upped the pressure around the 40 minute mark, with Nicky Maynard looking very dangerous. It was he who would find a neat pass for Ryan Lowe to latch on to 20 yards out, and he was unlucky to see his rising shot crash off the outside of the post beyond the dive of Westwood.

Crewe stayed forward and capitalised on some loose defending by United in the 42nd minute when Michael O'Connor was allowed to race clear and cross low from the left. Luke Varney was able to stab the ball home from close range with the defence playing catch up and in no real position to challenge.

With the scores level the game was to be turned on its head, but not before Westwood had smothered at the feet of Maynard who was inches away from claiming a Roberts through ball. The next attack, however, gave the Alex the lead when Varney turned provider with another searing break down the United left. His cross was cut back nicely and Ryan Lowe had timed his dash to the penalty spot just right. He volleyed it first time, threading it through the defenders and out of reach of Keiren Westwood, making it 2-1 at the break. 

Half Time: United 1 - 2 Crewe

It was to be a sobering second half for Carlisle who started the period of play well, battling in midfield and looking to hit Crewe on the break.

If there were any thoughts of the Alex sitting back on their lead they would soon be banished when they took control of the game with three killer goals, but not before United had seen some chances of their own.

A Chris Lumsdon corner in the 55th minute was met strongly by Murphy, who muscled his way in, and he beat everybody with a towering header that was goal bound. Williams tried to get to it, but failed, and it was only the woodwork that prevented the Carlisle centre back from scoring.

Crewe gained the upper hand after the flurry from the visitors and Varney drilled one from 22 yards as he shrugged off two challenges and side stepped his way in to range. Westwood had to get across quickly, stretching to pluck it out of the air.

McDonald switched to 4-4-2, bringing Holmes on for Gall, but Carlisle were looking shaky at the back for the first time this season, and Ryan Lowe took full advantage of that in the 73rd minute when he flicked a ball over the top past the stranded Peter Murphy. With Westwood and the goal at his mercy he was able to calmly stroke it in to the back of the net to extend the lead for his team. To his credit, he'd made a difficult chance look a very easy finish with some neat control.

United tried to get back in to and a Hawley twist and turn had to be blocked, with a corner the end result, in the 65th minute. Murphy was on to the delivery once more and it took two players on the line to clear it this time, with the club captain wondering what he has to do to score this season. The rebound came to him but it was a scramble that had the ball bobbling harmlessly wide once the gaggle of bodies had finished battling for it.

It was one of those afternoons where Crewe looked like scoring every time they got in the box and Danny Livesey needed to get in the way of a Lowe shot on 68 minutes as the tricky player tried to force a way through to Westwood. His tackle sprung free for Varney, and he blazed over the bar when he had time to have taken the ball down and pick his spot.

Derek Holmes saw a point blank header wonderfully saved by Williams on the line when he smashed an inswinging corner through the challenge of three defenders. He claimed loudly for a goal but the keeper had shown great athleticism, getting enough behind the ball to scoop it away.

A bad day at the office was about to get worse when Crewe broke decisively and in numbers, with the Cumbrians committed forward. Ryan Lowe went for a curler as he cut in to a shooting area, but Westwood parried that one with a two handed save. Varney had gambled and continued his run, and it was to pay off for him as he was presented with an easy header to make it 4-1.

Varney and Lowe were having an inspired afternoon and they linked up again in the 76th minute when a floated free kick had players running in all over the place. Varney it was who flicked it, but he didn't quite do enough and couldn't finish.

Crewe started to keep the ball with the game all but won, and Lowe was clearly in search of his hat-trick, shooting on sight. He was on the end of a slick passing move in the 87th minute but snatched at his shot, pulling it well wide as he skipped in to the 18 yard box.

He was to get his three goals in time added on, though, when he stood over a 25 yard free kick. His connection was firm but it was the slightest of deflections from the wall that beat Westwood, however, you can guarantee that Lowe won't care about that at all as he set off in celebration of his achievement.

This was a tough lesson for Carlisle who probably can't complain about the defeat, but can feel slightly aggrieved that it looked more comprehensive than it was. Having said that, Crewe took their chances well and hurt the Cumbrians with their clinical finishing. It's definitely one to be put to bed as quickly as possible and a return to normal service next weekend will be exactly the shot in the arm that is required. Bring on the Millwall.

Bookings

United - Arnison (25), Murphy (81), Thirlwell (90)

Goals

United - Hawley (24)

Crewe - Varney (42) (73), Lowe (45) (63) (90)

Teams

Crewe - Wiiliams, Otsemobor, Cox, Baudet (Moss 22), Jones, Roberts, Vaughan, O'Connor (Rix 79), Maynard (Rodgers 83), Varney, Lowe. Not Used - Tomlinson, Matthews.

United - Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Billy (Hindmarch 70), Lumsdon, Thirlwell, Gall (Holmes 57), Hackney, Hawley (McDermott 81). Not Used - Williams, Grand.

Away fans - 1371