Kev Gall was recalled to the United starting line up for the visit of a Gillingham side who still aren't clear of relegation worries, drafted in to assist Derek Holmes and Danny Graham at the spearhead of the Cumbrian attack.

Joe Garner was missing through suspension, and Johann Smith also suffered in the reshuffle as he took a place on the bench beside new arrival Chris Howarth.

Dale Tonge and Felix Bastians both made their debuts for Ronnie Jepson having arrived recently towards the end of the loan transfer window.

A bright start from the home side brought decent crosses from the flanks as Jeff Smith was the first to go on a run in the 2nd minute. His curling cross was difficult to deal with, but a half clearance was enough to take it away from Derek Holmes as he rushed in to pick up on any pieces that might be on offer.

Gall kept the pressure on, linking with a neat one-two, and his low cross was also cleared as Graham and Holmes made runs in to the area.

A Jeff Smith free kick in the 5th minute found Peter Murphy making an intelligent run, leaving his marker on his heels, and connected well, nodding it down towards the bottom corner. Larrieu reacted quickly, dropping on to it and pulling it in to his chest.

Kev Gall was off to a flying start and his surge down the wing led to a cut back that Jeff Smith was able to take possession of. He wasted no time in getting is shot in, but Larrieu was well placed once more as he made a comfortable catch.

It was good stuff from Carlisle, who were finding some decent balls in to the penalty area in the early exchanges, with Graham using Gall as the outlet whenever he received the ball.

The early pressure paid off on 14 minutes when Luke Joyce won a free kick 23 yards from goal, in a very dangerous position. Peter Murphy took control of it, and drilled a low shot straight through the wall, leaving Larrieu exposed and in no position to be able to deal with it as it flew in to the corner of the net to register the central defender's second goal of the season.

The Gills had a decent spell of their own shortly after the goal, with Felix Bastians winning their first corner of the day on 19 minutes. United had to defend deep, and were almost caught in the 21st minute when they were found to be flat across the back line.

Jepson will have been pleased with the response from his team, with Bastians pulling the strings down the Carlisle right, and forcing the Blues in to some scrappy and hurried defending as they held on to their lead.

Danny Graham smashed an instinctive volley goalwards as the ball sat up nicely for him in the 34th minute, following a Joyce ball in to the mix, but he didn't quite connect, slicing it well wide of the goal. In the mean time, Felix Bastians was still the danger man whenever Gillingham came forward, with Gall having to track back every time he got the ball.

United probed again in the 41st minute when Holmes won a high ball, flicking it onwards for Graham to get on to. Off balance, he went for an early cross, winning a corner for his side. Murphy got a head to that one, but he couldn't keep it down and put it over the bar.

Aranalde showed his class with a wonderful 40 yard cross-field pass in the next attack, picking out Kev Gall, who controlled it beautifully before winning yet another corner.

Luke Joyce had to hack the ball away from the near post, with half time closing in, as Gillingham threw men forward, and Danny Livesey was also needed as Bastians whipped a free kick in towards the red shirts. United did their job, staying tight, although Livesey earned his crust with two more blocks prior to the break.

The Gills closed the half with a great passage of play, involving five one touch passes, only to see McDonald screw his effort way off the mark when he had other options to choose from.

Half Time: United 1 - 0 Gillingham

Carlisle came quickly out of the blocks again for the second 45 minutes, with Graham breaking in to the area after good work in midfield. His shot was blocked, but it was swept quickly back in, where Derek Holmes was on hand to swing his leg through it and lift it over the crossbar.

At the other end Mark Bentley spurned an excellent chance to equalise in the 50th minute when Bastians lofted another teasing free kick between the keeper and the defenders. Bentley got there, but couldn't get it under control, allowing Westwood to pounce and make it his. The frustrated Gills man followed through, crashing in to the keeper and earning himself a yellow card for his troubles.

Jeff Smith came close to making things comfortable when he lobbed a first time volley back towards the nets, after Larrieu made a real hash of a headed clearance when he sprinted out to get there before Graham. The Carlisle left winger knew what he wanted to do, but it bounced wide as he got himself ready to celebrate.

Kev Gall had a shot fly right at Larrieu from a lightning quick break in the 58th minute, and Westwood had to palm a Bastians free kick over shortly after as both teams continued to search for a clean strike on goal. Mulligan found the top of the bar with a cushioned header from one of the corners that followed as Gillingham pushed further forward, and the Cumbrians were having to concentrate as runners overlapped on both wings.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu was thrown in to the mix by Jepson with 25 minutes to go, but the visitors came close to a goal courtesy of Carlisle United when Southall ran away and thumped a low cross towards the 6 yard box. Jeff Smith stuck a leg out and had his heart in his mouth as it flew off his boot and missed the top corner by a matter of inches.

Gillingham were left incensed in the 73rd minute when Mark Bentley was ordered from the field after a rash challenge on Aranalde, but Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation as he deemed that it was a tackle made with intent, and brandished the red card immediately.

United got their comfort zone in the 81st minute after some good pressure which started with substitute Johann Smith mesmerising his markers. Crosses were coming in, and it eventually paid dividend when Jeff Smith picked it up and thundered it back in to the area. 19-year-old midfielder Luke Joyce, making just his fourth start for the club, rose majestically to bullet his header in to the back of the net and double the lead.

Jeff Smith was the provider again two minutes later when he sent yet another cross in, looking for the runs of Johann Smith and Kev Gall. Jackman got there first, but as he tried to clear it he found himself closed down by Kevin Gall, who was able to put himself in the way and direct it in to the waiting goal.

Things got even better in the 88th minute when Johann Smith used his trickery to put his marker off balance just inside the box. The challenge came in, but it was loose, sending the American play maker to the floor. Mr Dean pointed to the spot, and on-loan Boro striker Danny Graham took responsibility as he stroked it beyond Larrieu to notch his second for the club.

The rout was completed in the 90th minute when Danny Graham was on the spot to round off a wonderful move that had taken Gall wide on the right. His cross took the defence out of the game, and the big striker was able to pick his corner of the net with an unstoppable header that brought the Cumberland Building Society stand to its feet.

Goals

United - Murphy (14), Joyce (81), Gall (83), Graham (89 pen, 90)

Bookings

United - Joyce (40), Thirlwell (69)

Gillingham - Bentley (50 & 73 - sent off 73), Johnson (65)

Teams

United - Westwood, Raven, Murphy, Livesey, Aranalde, Thirlwell (Lumsdon 85), Joyce (Vipond 88), Jeff Smith, Gall, Holmes (Johann Smith 77), Graham. Subs - Howarth, Vipond, Gray.

Gillingham - Larrieu, Jackman, Sancho, Bentley, Mulligan, McDonald (Ndumbu-Nsungu 66), Southall, Johnson, Spiller (Flynn 75), Bastians, Tonge. Subs - Cox, Easton, Chorley.

Away fans - 323