Carlisle United 3-0 Doncaster Rovers 0: Guy and Stretton on target as in-form Blues win again

Paul Simpson's side sealed their biggest home win for nearly two years as they extended their unbeaten run to nine league games - their best run for six years.

And they were well worth the comfortable victory as a superb opener from Guy before half-time was followed by Derby loan frontman Stretton's first goals in a United shirt after the break.

The Cumbrians, watched by a 5,600 crowd, could easily have added to their tally, Ryan Edmondson having a late penalty saved, as visiting fans chanted against manager Gary McSheffrey.

It was Carlisle's biggest home league win since the 4-0 thrashing of Stevenage in December 2020 and extended the fourth-tier's longest unbeaten run - their best since Keith Curle's side went 15 unbeaten at the start of 2016/17.

And it came despite further injury woes with top scorer Kristian Dennis the latest to be sidelined.

Stretton, though, seized his chance alongside the recalled Edmondson as Carlisle, brimming with confidence, cemented their place in the play-off places.

Callum Guy celebrates the opener (Image: Ben Holmes)

Simpson made two changes from the side that had started at Hartlepool the previous weekend, with Jack Ellis and Edmondson both coming into the XI.

Ellis replaced the injured Fin Back at right wing-back - with striker Edmondson taking the place of the Cumbrians' latest absentee Dennis.

Fit-again Ben Barclay was among the subs, while Doncaster boss McSheffrey made four changes, recalling ex-Blues loan defender Tom Anderson along with Adam Long, Max Woltman and George Miller.

Brunton Park was hit by heavy downpours as the players warmed up - before the sun came out in time for kick-off.

Doncaster made the first inroad after a weak Guy pass, but Paul Huntington timed his sliding challenge perfectly to deny George Miller.

Carlisle then went on to work some half-chances, Stretton denied by keeper Johnny Mitchell and then Edmondson failing to get a lob on target with the visiting No1 outside his box following a headed interception.

Jon Mellish rifled over from 20 yards after one of several positive runs from defence, before the game truly came to life after the 25-minute mark.

First, Blues keeper Tomas Holy came to the rescue with a superb reflex save after Ben Close worked the ball right to Kyle Knoyle then looked set to score when attacking his cross.

Jack Stretton makes it three (Image: Ben Holmes)

At the other end, United came very close to an opener when Owen Moxon attacked a Jordan Gibson cross, only for a combiation of Mitchell's save and the crossbar to keep the ball out.

Jack Armer was denied by a block from a well-drilled low shot as United continued to knock at the door, with Gibson sending a shot bobbling just wide later in the half.

Finally, Carlisle made the breakthrough - and they did it in style in the 44th minute.

Moxon had the ball to the left and thought about the shot, but saw Guy in better space and fed the midfielder to his right.

Guy then lined up the shot and sent a beautifully-struck low effort past Mitchell and into the bottom left of the Warwick Road End net.

That was enough for a well-earned half-time lead for Simpson's side.

And they built on it with a decisive spell in the second half as Doncaster went under.

First, in the 53rd minute, Stretton broke down the left and when Gibson's initial shot was blocked, the midfielder's next ricocheted into the net off Stretton for the latter's first United goal.

Owen Moxon shows his delight (Image: Ben Holmes)

Then, in the 67th minute, Mellish broke up a visiting attack with an excellent challenge on Luke Molyneux before Gibson released Stretton behind the Donny defence, and the Derby loan man finished confidently past Mitchell.

Doncaster responded with a third substitution, Jon Taylor following the earlier introductions of Kieran Agard and Kyle Hurst, but the visitors were bereft of confidence as Carlisle continued their raids, as teenager Ellis impressed on the right.

They twice came very close to a fourth, with Moxon seeing a shot deflect just wide, and Gibson missing the target by millimetres after another counter-attack.

Man-of-the-match Stretton got a well-deserved standing ovation when replaced by Simpson in the 78th minute, Jayden Harris introduced for the closing stages.

Two-time creator Gibson couldn't quite get a goal himself, the midfielder seeing another shot blocked after good work by Ellis and Guy, before a subtle Moxon pass almost put sub Harris in.

A late injury to Corey Whelan saw him replaced by Morgan Feeney in the closing stages.

And United then failed to add a fourth from the spot as Adam Long fouled Harris on the right of the box.

Edmondson stepped up, but saw his spot-kick kept out by the legs of Mitchell.

That, though, didn't take any of the shine from a superb Brunton Park afternoon.

United: Holy, Whelan (Feeney 88), Huntington, Mellish, Ellis, Armer, Guy, Moxon, Gibson (Charters 90), Edmondson, Stretton (Harris 78). Not used: Kelly, Barclay, Bollado, Idehen.

Goals: Guy 44, Stretton 53, 67.

Booked: Huntington.

Doncaster: Mitchell, Knoyle, Anderson, Williams, Long, Clayton, Close, Biggins (Agard 61), Molyneux (Taylor 68), Miller, Woltman (Hurst 61). Not used: Bottomley, Maxwell, Seaman, Faulkner.

Booked: Clayton, Williams.

Ref: Peter Wright.

Crowd: 5,600 (477 Doncaster fans).