Carlisle United 3-1 Hartlepool United: Dennis and Feeney sink Pools

The frontman took his tally for the season to 17 after Morgan Feeney had put Paul Simpson's side in front.

Carlisle were excellent value for the points despite a Josh Umerah consolation for Keith Curle's side.

It saw the Cumbrians strengthen their grip on fourth place in front of 5,172 fans at Brunton Park, on a night Joe Garner received a warm welcome back as a second-half substitute.

Carlisle are now on third-placed Northampton Town's tails after another confident statement of their promotion intent against Curle's third-bottom strugglers.

They are also three points clear of fifth - and five points above eighth.

Simpson named an unchanged side from Carlisle's previous outing - the 2-0 win over Newport County a week and a half ago.

That meant Garner began his fourth Blues spell as a substitute, taking the place of Tobi Sho-Silva on the bench.

Joe Garner warms up (Image: Ben Holmes)

John-Kymani Gordon got a second start after his goalscoring debut.

Hartlepool boss Curle, meanwhile, brought Rollin Menayese and Mouhamed Niang back into his side at the expense of Jamie Sterry and Joe Grey, while new goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk was on the bench.

Carlisle made a sharp start and a counter-attack in the sixth minute forced a corner which led to the opening goal.

Owen Moxon's inswinging set-piece was glanced by Dennis at the near post, and when keeper Ben Killip could only parry it on the line, Feeney pounced from close range.

Morgan Feeney, left, celebrates the opener (Image: Barbara Abbott)

It was the captain's first goal at Brunton Park, and was greeted with a chorus of "Going down" as Blues fans taunted their rivals, whilst a smoke device landed in the Warwick Road End penalty area amid the celebrations.

Carlisle continued a bright start, with Gordon's pace on the break an early weapon.

The Crystal Palace loanee tested Killip with an acrobatic attempt from the edge of the box after a low delivery from the impressive Jordan Gibson, before United went close to a second when Jack Armer's cross found Dennis at the near post, a second attempt striking the post as the visitors escaped.

Dennis celebrates with Jamie Devitt after United's second goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

But Carlisle then did double their lead on 26 minutes through a well-constructed attack, Callum Guy finding Jon Mellish charging into space down the left, and Dennis controlling the low cross before steering his 16th of the season past Killip.

Seconds later, though, Pools responded, an under-hit Moxon pass enabling Umerah to fire past Tomas Holy to make it 2-1.

That kept the visitors in it, though Carlisle remained the more dangerous side, Dennis testing Killip from 25 yards before shooting wide from a tight angle.

After the break, Jack Hamilton rose to win a free header in the Blues box, Holy diving to turn it around the post.

Hamilton and Umerah tried to push United deeper, as Curle's side looked for a further way back, but Moxon and Dennis almost made the most of Gordon crosses from the right.

Guy then almost capped an energetic midfield performance by making it three in stunning fashion, when his dipping shot from 30 yards was tipped over by Killip.

Dennis heads United's third (Image: Ben Holmes)

United, though, then did get their crucial third when Dennis and Moxon combined on the break, before the latter's pinpoint cross found the striker in space to head clinically home.

Curle responded by bringing on Joe Grey for Mouhamed Niang, with Brunton Park in fine voice at Carlisle's superiority.

Grey could have pulled one back, but Paul Huntington blocked his shot.

Carlisle, with Omari Patrick on for Gordon, could then have added more, Killip denying Dennis and Joel Senior, who later shot over the bar.

United fans celebrate (Image: Ben Holmes)

Garner then came on for his fourth debut in the 79th minute, the offside flag denying him the chance of a goal on his comeback, fans singing his name.

But Carlisle confidently closed things out, Simpson's side remaining on the front foot, while Hartlepool lost Menayese late on, the defender hurt in a challenge with Garner and having to be stretchered off.

Carlisle: Holy, Feeney, Huntington, Mellish, Senior, Armer, Guy, Moxon, Gibson (McCalmont 80), Gordon (Patrick 73), Dennis (Garner 80). Not used: Kelly, Whelan, Devitt, Robinson. 

Goals: Feeney 6, Dennis 26, 67.  

Hartlepool: Killip, Dodds (Sterry 76), Ferguson, Hartley, Menayese, Pruti (McDonald 76), Dolan (Sylla 82), Niang (Grey 67), Featherstone (Hastie 82), Hamilton, Umerah. Not used: Stolarczyk, Murray. 

Goal: Umerah 27. 

Ref: Samuel Barrott. 

Crowd: 5,172 (342 Hartlepool fans).