Impressive Carlisle United delivered a lesson in finishing to sink Crewe Alexandra 4-2.
Cumbrians see off Crewe at Brunton Park
Impressive Carlisle delivered a lesson in finishing to sink Crewe 4-2.
Danny Graham grabbed a first-half brace and Scott Dobie and Simon Hackney were on target after the break to maintain the Cumbrians' 100 per cent start.
Carlisle's sparkling opening had the visitors' defence reeling and Graham put the home side ahead in the 15th minute with Dobie the provider. Graham was on the mark again four minutes later, this time rising unchallenged eight yards from goal to thump home a header from Hackney's pin-point cross.
Crewe quickly got back into the game in the 20th minute when Julien Baudet helped on Byron Moore's cross and Chris McCready was on hand to force the ball home from close range. Baudet was a threat to Crewe from set-pieces and almost had the visitors level after 34 minutes with a header which bounced on the top of the bar.
After the break Moore missed a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise, bursting clear of the defence but rolling a tame shot across the face of goal and wide. Dobie showed the way to goal in the 59th minute, rifling a shot into the roof of the net from six yards as the Crewe defence failed to clear Graham's low ball.
Michael Bridges replaced Dobie and soon made an impact, sending Hackney clear with a slide-rule pass in the 76th minute. The winger neatly slid a low shot past advancing keeper Steve Collis. Tom Pope headed an 86th-minute consolation for Crewe, who are still looking for a first points of the season.
