Crewe went top of League Two after dominating a dismal Carlisle for the vast majority of a six-goal thriller at Brunton Park.

Goals from Nicky Hunt, Daniel Powell, Chris Porter and Gethin Jones (into the wrong net) saw the Railwaymen reach the summit.

Two Cumbrian consolation goals from Hallam Hope and Christie Elliott were ultimately rendered meaningless.

Steven Pressley opted for unchanged starting XI, with Stefan Scougall returning to the bench. Hope started the match after rejecting a call-up from Barbados during the week.

David Artell made four changes, one forced as goalkeeper William Jääskeläinen (son of Jussi) was on international duty for Finland U21s while skipper Perry Ng – a pantomime villain in this fixture – returned from suspension as Hunt moved into centre-back.

It took seven minutes for 36-year-old Hunt to poke home after Byron Webster’s calamitous clearances fell into the former Bolton Wanderers’ man’s path.

Familiar groans sounded around Brunton Park, and Pressley – with his family watching on from the stand behind – was taking the heat.

His side were too reactive off the ball and too tentative on it for large periods, allowing the Alex to double their lead when Jack Bridge had the ball pinched from him.

Tom Lowery saw Powell bombing down the right and Nathaniel Knight-Percival, half limping due to a knock, was no danger to the winger, who buried his shot into the top left-hand corner 20 yards out from the right.

Booed into the break, it seemed game over for Carlisle while Crewe bounced into the dressing room.

Half-time: 0-2

David Artell moved down into the dugout from the above stand following the interval, hoping to guide his team to a straightforward victory.

Jon Mellish replaced Knight-Percival to give the Cumbrians a bit of grit at the back, and soon after Bridge was hooked for Stefan Scougall.

Scougall made an instant impact, driving forward before playing in Jack Iredale on the left flank who squared to Hope for a simple tap-in. Game on.

Muted celebrations would be much more elated five minutes later when another Iredale cross found Elliott at the back post for another easy finish when everyone else flooded towards the near post.

Cue jubilation for everyone but Pressley, who turned around stone-faced at his critics behind him before erupting into a wild celebration to make the equalising atmosphere an awkward one.

However, other than a few more chances for an opportunity to gain the lead, the Cumbrians capitulated when Ng’s ball was flicked in by Porter against the run of play. A real sucker punch.

It felt inevitable that the Railwaymen would extend their advantage again and did so via G. Jones’ attempted clearance. Game over.

All that was left for Carlisle was a late free-kick, which summed up their day. A misplaced lay-off resulted in Crewe rushing forward, but they failed to make it five.

It was still light at full-time in the Border City but it was one of Pressley’s darkest days as the Blues boss.

Artell, on the other hand, greeted 465 buoyant Alex supporters as they sit prettily ahead of the rest in the division.

The Cumbrians lacked leaders and on-field accountability as the Railwaymen steamed past them to send supporters into a Saturday night frenzy of opinions on whether the Scot should stay.

Barring 10 minutes of endeavour from Carlisle midway through the second half, Crewe controlled the game. Their first half display was enough to prove to anyone that they deserved three points.

The Cumbrians, who slumped to 20th place, make the long journey to Plymouth next weekend while the Railwaymen make their way back down the West Coast Main Line to welcome fellow promotion hopefuls Swindon Town.

Attendance: 4,521 (465)

Home star man: Hallam Hope

Away star man: Tom Lowery

Referee: Darren England

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent