Carlisle United 1 - 0 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

CARLISLE hitman Joe Garner's tenth goal of the season settled a tight top-of-the-table clash at Brunton Park and condemned Orient to just their third away defeat of the season.

Garner bundled home a Marc Bridge-Wilkinson corner at the start of the second period and the home side, whose pace in attack was a constant menace, just merited their closely-fought victory.

Orient's best moments came in the closing stages, although they will look to a header from JJ Melligan in the first half that was ruled out controversially by the assistant referee and wonder what might have been.

But their luck wasn't in and Garner's strike hauled the Cumbrians ahead of Orient in the League One table.

Bridge-Wilkinson offered the first threat on goal, curling a free-kick over the top after Adam Chambers committed a foul on Cumbrians top scorer Garner in the third minute.

A foul on Adam Boyd at the other end two minutes later gave the visitors a shooting chance, but they made a hash of their free-kick routine and the ball was nicked away from Charlie Daniels before he could get a shot away.

A third early offence in close proximity to the penalty area afforded Bridge-Wilkinson another crack at goal, and he made a better fist of this one, sending the ball into the side-netting.

Garner then forced a low save from Glenn Morris with a right-footed effort from 20 yards as Carlisle started on the front foot.

The O's were taking their time to settle and Carlisle fashioned another decent chance on 20 when a well-positioned Joe Anyinsah failed to hit the target after Tamika Mkandawire tackled Garner inside the area.

Six minutes later Garner, who Martin Ling had identified as Carlisle's main threat in the build up to the game, got it all wrong when he headed Bridge-Wilkinson's cross wide of the mark from in front of goal.

Still the hosts pressed for the opener and Garner sent the ball into the side-netting after making a darting run to the near post to meet a Bridge-Wilkinson centre.

Three minutes later, though, Orient showed signs of life when Jabo Ibehre, Adam Boyd and Adam Chambers combined to send the former through.  Goalkeeper Kieren Westwood read the situation perfectly and closed the angles sufficiently to save from the O's striker.

Ibehre sent a rasping drive just over the top shortly afterwards, but Orient were grateful for Anyinsah's poor touch after he had dispossessed Daniels at the other end.

Anyinsah was granted a free run on goal, but his heavy control allowed Mkandawire to race back and dive in to tackle at the last moment.

But Carlisle couldn't take advantage of their strong start and they were almost stung two minutes before the break when Chambers and Melligan rose to meet Daniels' deep cross at the far post.  Westwood wasn't able to claim and Melligan forced the ball home, but although referee Scott Mathieson appeared to award the goal, his nearside assistant David Webb flagged for a foul on the stopper.

However, the hosts did not have to wait long to break the deadlock after the break, with Garner making up for his earlier miss by finishing Bridge-Wilkinson's corner from close range.

With 62 minutes on the clock and the pitch becoming more slippery, Garner miseed a golden opportunity to land a decisive second when he sent the ball wide of the near post after Danny Carlton had shrugged off the attentions of Daniels to provide a low cross.

Orient introduced Wayne Corden from the bench in a bid to come back into the game and he was involved straight away, crossing from the left for Boyd to glance a header wide in the 70th minute.

Mkandawire nodded Daniels' corner over the top with seven minutes to go, and Boyd almost caught Westwood out with a dipping volley at the death, but despite upping the ante in the final ten minutes, Orient could not find a way through and Carlisle held on for victory.

Carlisle: Westwood; Raven, Livesey, Keogh, Aranalde; Anyinsah (Thirlwell 80), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney; Carlton, Garner
Subs: Murphy, Gall, Graham, Howarth (GK)

Goal: Garner (50)

Booked: Bridge-Wilkinson, Keogh

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Daniels; Melligan (Barcham 81), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou (Corden 68); Ibehre (Echanomi 86), Boyd
Subs: Saah, Palmer

Booked: Chambers

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)

Attendance: 6,843 (189 away)