Burton edge seven-goal thriller

A first half goal blitz sank Carlisle and enabled Burton to hold on for victory as an entertaining game at Brunton Park finished 4-3.

Goals from Damien McCrory, Lee Bell, Jacob Blyth and Alex MacDonald left the Cumbrians with a mountain to climb, although Kyle Dempsey and Brad Potts did manage replies for the home side in a remarkable six-goal opening period. Derek Asamoah grabbed a third for Keith Curle's men in the second half, but despite a spirited fightback Carlisle fell just short. Burton lost defender George Taft to injury in Carlisle's first attack, but substitute McGrory made an impact with his first touch in the fifth minute, lashing a scorching 25-yard shot past a helpless Dan Hanford from 25 yards. However, Carlisle equalised in the 12th minute through teenager Dempsey's fifth goal of the season - a close-range flick after Antony Sweeney's header across the face of goal had come back off a post. A fine individual effort by Bell restored the Brewers' lead in the 27th minute. Bell won possession just inside the Carlisle half and strode forward without challenge to thunder an unstoppable right-foot shot past Hanford from 30 yards. Carlisle's troubles were not over because in the 40th minute Gary Dicker lost possession in midfield for Stuart Beavon to send Blyth away and the Burton striker fired a crisp, low shot wide of the diving Hanford into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Then, two minutes into first-half injury time, MacDonald wriggled free on the byline and his cross was deflected into the net off Hanford. Potts pulled one back for Carlisle with the last kick of the half - a right-foot screamer from 30 yards out. Ghanaian striker Asamoah marked his debut as a substitute by edging the hosts back in the game in the 65th minute when he profited from indecision by defender Ian Sharps and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin to nip in and slide the ball into an empty net. Albion striker Beavon was sent off in added time for a second yellow card for dissent.