The gulf in class between the two sides was only apparent when it came to finding the net as Stockport found a match winner in Scott Taylor who bagged a brace.

For all their good approach work the Cumbrians were unable to find a cutting edge in front of goal and still seek their first goals of the season.

Manager Roddy Collins was disappointed with the result after the game and said: "We defended poorly at set pieces and paid the penalty. Some of the defending was criminal but on the positive side we showed more penetration when we went 4-4-2. We played some good football but need to have something on the end of it, but I am optimistic we can progress from this.

I hope to have a big target man in for the weekend which will give us more options."

Following a slow start Shefti Kuqi had the first scoring opportunity after 12 minutes with a 25 yard free kick which Luke Weaver dealt with comfortably.

On 16 minutes Colin Woodthorpe got clear on the edge of the box only to pull his shot wide but three minutes later he again found space to rifle a shot which had Weaver at full stretch, conceding a corner.

Stockport's breakthrough came on 20 minutes when Ali Gibb's inswinging corner was powerfully headed home by Kuqi.

Carlisle's first effort came on 25 minutes with Ian Steven's shooting weakly straight at home keeper Lee Jones.

On the stroke of half time the Carlisle goal survived twice in quick succession with Weaver saving at the feet of Kuqi before a Leo Roget header crept agonisingly wide of the far post.

Stockport increased their lead 11 minutes into the second half when the impressive Taylor found room to turn on the edge of the box before hitting a right foot shot passed Weaver.

On 63 minutes the Cumbrians should have pulled a goal back but Stuart Whitehead headed wide from a Stuart Elliott corner.

Ian Stevens then latched onto an Elliott ball over the top only for Mike Flynn to get back to cover.

Steve Halliday should then have done better than blast a shot over the bar from Stevens' layoff.

With seven minutes left the home side wrapped things up with their third when Taylor got to the near post to head home a Jason Van Blerk corner.

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