BIG MATCH VERDICT: Carlisle United 3-0 Doncaster Rovers

Carlisle are off the hook – yet, after two minutes, the afternoon’s possibilities are already showing themselves to Doncaster. Now, how did that go again?

Perhaps, when reflecting on this consummate United victory, that was the early tripping of the alarm that did for Gary McSheffrey’s team. It was just about the last time Paul Simpson’s team did anything faulty at all. Twenty-four minutes later, the visitors put together a well-constructed attack, which ended with Kyle Knoyle crossing for Ben Close in space.

That was close too, sort of. But once Close’s finish met the immovable object of Tomas Holy’s substantial frame, the game transformed. Watching Carlisle from that moment was like seeing a character in a cartoon suddenly power-up.

Their football became more urgent, more persuasive, eventually irresistible. Guy bulleted them into an impressive lead and then, in the second half, Jack Stretton added two more.

During and after that goal flurry, one thing was underlined more than anything. Confidence. Carlisle have enjoyed several characterful wins since Simpson returned, but this was another rung up.

Jordan Gibson is surrounded by Doncaster players (Image: Ben Holmes)

This was instinctive, emphatic superiority. This was swagger. This was a team nudging and darting and working things entirely to their liking, against a side level on points at the start of play, but hollow shells by the end of it.

And this, don’t forget, was from a team and squad being held together by Sellotape and Blu Tack given the amount of injuries they’ve had to contend with.

This, then, is their biggest triumph, this far in: to be sixth, with the club’s best unbeaten run in the league for six years (nine matches now), with this much optimism being mined from a ground which has been without the commodity for too long, despite the weekly rethinking Simpson is having to undertake.

This latest version was highly impressive for several reasons. Jack Ellis was one – summoned back into the side for the sidelined Fin Back, and playing so comfortably, with such polish, still at 18. Stretton was another – as clear a case of a player earning his rewards as you’ll see.

Others were everywhere you looked, whether it be Jon Mellish acquiring the title deeds for pretty much every square yard on the left hand side, or Guy capping a grittily effective game with a splendid midfielder’s goal.

Jack Ellis impressed on his recall (Image: Ben Holmes)

Take your pick from the others. And know, after 13 games, that Carlisle have a very impressive basis here: a good ethic, a belief in the man at the top, a front-foot mentality which is, right now, defying the hindrances thrown into their path since pre-season, injury-wise – and hope also pouring from the terraces and stands.

Pitfalls usually await such breezy conviction. But let’s see where this can go. United are contenders now, that cannot be questioned. The road from here is, at the very least, a fascinating one.

Until that first key moment – Holy’s outstanding save – it had been a case of two teams trading jabs, Doncaster attempting some thoughtful stuff from the deep-midfield promptings of Adam Clayton, Carlisle trying to build from Ryan Edmondson’s willing and able leading of the line.

Stretton and Mellish - the latter morphing from watchful defender to raiding winger and then back again - thad their nearest opening misses. Holy then stood up to Close...and then the Blues rose. Jordan Gibson had one of those games that makes you feel a door might be unlocked at any moment and, as he pushed further onto Clayton, and also ventured out wide, chances started to flow.

Callum Guy celebrates his goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

One came from a cross which Owen Moxon met, keeper Johnny Mitchell and crossbar saving Doncaster. Jack Armer had another salvo blocked, Gibson bobbled one wide from more hard pressure. Then, from the left, Edmondson held things up well, Moxon looked for shooting space, ran the calculations, sent it to Guy instead, and the midfielder made sweet use of the better gap in front of him by putting his laces through a lovely, low 25-yard shot.

By the time that one fizzed past Mitchell, United’s superiority was established, and McSheffrey’s side were resembling paper tigers: all ideas, no execution. In defence, and in front of it, Carlisle broke up play, got onto shoulders, keenly countering. In the 53rd minute, Stretton broke Doncaster’s back line and eventually went infield to deflect home Gibson’s second shot from close range.

It was another hole in the dam. Doncaster’s fans chanted for McSheffrey’s removal. On the hour, a telling cameo, as the ball looped in the air towards visiting defender Ro-Shaun Williams. He waited, stooped, and carefully cushioned it to...absolutely nobody.

The Paddock howled. Then, Mellish supremely challenged Luke Molyneux, Gibson sent Stretton scampering through again, and his finish was consummate.

Owen Moxon celebrates with second-half scorer Jack Stretton (Image: Ben Holmes)

It was a procession from here; Moxon and Gibson going close again, Ellis contributing as ably in attack as in defence on the right, Moxon so nearly threading Jayden Harris through, then the sub felled by Adam Long in added time, Mitchell’s legs depriving Edmondson of a Carlisle fourth from the penalty spot.

Imagine that - a United penalty miss taking not the slightest shine from an emphatic victory. An unlikely scenario indeed for many of the recent months and years. The definition of what’s possible, even what’s likely, is being rewritten by Simpson’s team. This ride could be great fun.