Roared on by a huge away following that packed the Tommy Sale Stand, the visitors dominated the game from start to finish and almost took the lead within a couple of minutes of the start when Craig Gaunt was forced to clear off the line. However, it didn't take long for Carlisle to get on the scoresheet and they did so after twelve minutes when a mistake from Martin Moran allowed Brendan McGill enough space to put the ball in the back of the net.

United continued to dominate up until around the half-hour mark when RMI started to get back in to the game, with Michael Byrne twice testing Carlisle goalkeeper Matt Glennon from distance, as did Karl Rose from a long way out. RMI got a shock equaliser after thirty four minutes when former Bolton goalkeeper Glennon fumbled Martin Moran's free kick, falling at the feet of RMI captain Gareth Stoker, who lobbed the ball in to the empty net from thirty five yards out. Although Byrne went close with a curling free kick from the edge of the box, forcing Glennon in to a smart parried save, the sides were still level by the time the half-time whistle went.

The second half began with the visitors immediately on the attack, with Peter Murphy being denied by an excellent save from Ian Martin, before Carlisle deservedly re-took the lead when McGill grabbed his second of the game, sliding the ball under Martin in to the back of the net.

Carlisle gave themselves a two goal cushion twenty minutes later when Tom Cowan drilled the ball past Martin from eight yards out after a flick-on from Hawley.

RMI's only impressive performer was recent signing Gary Williams, who did well running at Cowan down the right wing, and he was denied by a Glennon save a few minutes before the game reached rout proportions in the 78th minute when former Bury midfielder Chris Billy, brother of Doncaster Dragons rugby league winger Marlon, put the ball home after Martin had twice parried it away.

Peter Murphy and Craig Farrell both added goals in stoppage time at the end of the game, delighting the massive away support as they celebrated their sixth win in succession, while the small RMI support contemplated another season of relegation struggle against the odds.

You have to take your hat off to a full-time Carlisle side who were quite simply too good for RMI, and seem to be too good for the Conference as a whole, but things need to drastically improve for Leigh, and fast!

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