United Boss John Ward was forced in to making one change to the starting eleven that sent Leeds United packing at Brunton Park on Saturday with Kev Gall coming in to replace Joe Anyinsah on the right hand side.

Neale McDermott was drafted on to the bench, with the remainder of the line up unchanged and raring to go.

Luton created the first half chance of the night in the 4th minute when Bell got a yard of space on the right and whipped the ball in. Andrew moved towards it, but he was well marshalled by Murphy and Livesey and he couldn't quite make a connection.

Bell almost scored from nothing in the 6th minute when his cross, from tight on the touchline, curled wickedly and dipped towards the far post. Westwood scrambled, but he was able to watch in relief as it went behind for the goal kick.

United broke quickly themselves in the 11th minute, forcing the Hatters in to a defensive error that gave Hackney the chance to cross early. His ball in fell between the keeper and his back line and they were happy to see it away for a corner as Garner steamed in.

Luton were using their width well and they spread it across the pitch and back again in the 14th minute, stretching the Cumbrian defenders. Currie picked it up on the right, and fizzed it across the face of the 6 yard box. Edwards, who had played a big part in the build up, was inches away from getting the vital touch.

The resulting corner was swept in to the danger area and Bell thought he'd scored when he bulleted a 7 yard header towards the roof of the net. Westwood put a hand up and the width of the bar prevented the home side from taking the lead. Coyne followed up, but the Carlisle stopper recovered and plucked it out of the air.

The Cumbrians could have taken the lead themselves in the 18th minute when Garner spotted Gall on the overlap on the right hand side. He found him with an accurate pass, but the first touch let the United man down and the chance was gone.

Superb football brought a fantastic save from Brill in the 20th minute, sparked by an incisive pass from Bridge-Wilkinson. Graham shielded it and got it out to Hackney, and his cross was met on the full by a rising Joe Garner. It was a cushioned header, and the keeper rose to full stretch to tip it over the bar.

Bridge-Wilkinson drilled a low 23rd minute effort wide as Carlisle settled in to their game, but they still had to be wary as Bell was finding joy out wide. Andrew was denied a header on target in their next attack as Raven got to it moments before him.

A Murphy mistake on 25 minutes left Westwood exposed and he was stranded as Currie latched on to it 6 yards out. With just Raven to beat it was heroics from the Cumbrians right back David Raven as he spread himself and blocked what was a certain goal on the line.

Currrie and Bell were playing well and they combined in the 26th minute to test United again. Currie tried to pick out the run of Edwards, but it was just too high and Carlisle could relax.

David Edwards almost took Westwood by surprise on 37 minutes with a 40 yard dipping volley that appeared to be heading for the top corner. The Carlisle stopper remained calm, and watched with disinterest as it missed his nets by some margin.

Edwards was the man on the spot again as half time approached when he cushioned a long ball forward with his right foot before spinning, 12 yards out, and shooting early. It was a decent piece of skill, but he couldn't keep it down and it angled towards the United fans behind the goal.

The half ended with a Carlisle free kick following a tug on Gall, 20 yards from goal, by Fojut. Peter Murphy stepped up to take it, and he sent it through the wall, bringing a fumbled parry from the unsighted Dean Brill.

Half Time: Luton 0 - 0 United

Hackney opened the second 45 minutes with a hopeful, over the shoulder volley that was difficult for him to control, followed by a chip from the edge of the box after a tussle for possession from Garner. Neither effort had enough on it to trouble Brill.

Play was then placed on pause as youths outside the ground threw fireworks in to the ground, putting the stewards in real danger.

David Bell brought things back to life after the stop / start opening when he unleashed a thunderbolt from 22 yards. Westwood saw it late, but it was a great save as he dived to his right.

Carlisle broke at pace in the 48th minute when Lumsdon made the ball his own in midfield. He fed it to Graham, but he delayed the shot and it was deflected wide when it came.

It was another great game for Westwood and he somehow pulled off a magical save on the hour when Calvin Andrew trapped the ball and spun quickly. His shot canonned off Murphy, and it headed goalwards until the athletic stopper intervened and pushed it away.

A good break involving Graham , Garner and Gall earned a corner for the Cumbrians, but Garner couldn't keep the Bridge-Wilkinson corner down and he headed it behind.

Luton were looking good with the ball and Coyne was next to go close when he made a far post free kick his own, nodding towards the top corner. Westwood had to get there again to palm it away.

Danny Graham took matters in to his own hands in the 69th minute when he stroked a 25 yard belter at Brill. He was equal to it, but his hands were stinging after the cautious save.

The Hatters were knocking on the door and they came close in the 76th minute when a Bell free kick evaded everyone as it sped towards the back stick. Coyne was there to pull it back, and it took a hooked clearance from Livesey to maintain the clean sheet.

United were still looking dangerous on the break and Bridge-Wilkinson set them off again in the 78th minute with a pass forward to Garner. He waited for Gall, but his shot was blocked and went for the corner. Bridge-Wilkinson put that in to the mix, and a Garner header ballooned up off Graham's thigh, bringing Brill in to action once more. He did well to parry it away.

Carlisle crafted a great chance in the 89th minute when Raven skipped through 3 challenges and pushed it out wide for Graham. He went for the bottom corner, but he pulled it back too far and it ran wide of the target.

Bookings

Luton - Robinson (90)

TeamsLuton - Brill, Perry, Coyne, Bell, Currie (Talbot 72), Jackson, Robinson, Edwards (Morgan 81), Andrew, Spring, Fojut. Subs - Hutchison, O'Leary, McVeigh.

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Gall, Bridge-Wilkinson, Lumsdon, Hackney (Smith 72), Garner, Graham. Subs - Howarth, Carlton, McDermott, Arnison.

Away fans - 408