Former Tow Law striker Brian Wake stole the headlines with a goal poachers hat trick, but so poor was League newcomers Boston’s defending, that Wake must have thought he had been transported back in time to his former Northern League days. All three goals ended up as no more than tap ins, but his instinctive knack of being in the right place at the right time gave him a deserved first Football League match ball for his collection.

There were glimpses of the flowing football the coaching staff and fans crave, but the performance never rose to great heights, nevertheless it was a step in the right direction. But the Cumbrians’ defensive frailties were never very far from the surface and better teams than Boston would undoubtedly have made them suffer.

Coach Tony Elliott said after the game: “It was a great result. We worked well in the first half and set the ground alight but died a little bit in the second half. That was to be expected but we would have like the lads to go on and win five or six. It was maybe natural for players in that position to sit back a little but the gaffer (Roddy Collins) doesn’t want to do that, he wants them to push on and go for a bigger win and we expected to do that. Maybe we got a little tired and although it was never panic stations we would have preferred an easier ride in the second half.

“The first half was a great team performance and we would have preferred a higher standard in the second half but we are working on it and we will get there in the end. It was important to get a home win especially for the supporters and hopefully now they can see what we are trying to do. We are trying to get a better shape around us and maybe the few thousand we have lost since the start of the season will start to come back again.”

Things might have turned out differently had Boston capitalised on a third minute defensive error. When Darren Kelly failed to steer a ball back to Peter Keen, Stuart Douglas latched onto the loose ball to send an exquisite chip over Keen only to see the effort rebound of the crossbar.

The let off had the necessary effect as Carlisle took control of the game and their opening goal came on 14 minutes. David Freeman’s inswinging free kick from the left appeared to be covered by Boston keeper Paul Bastock, but Wake showed great predator instincts to get in between two defenders to side foot home.

Seven minutes later the second came courtesy of a Richie Foran penalty after he had been pulled down by Steve Burton trying to get on the end of a Peter Murphy free kick.

Kelly then had a point blank header saved by Bostock on 33 minutes with the third goal coming a minute later. Brian Shelley’s right wing cross was met at the back post by Foran and his nod down was poked home by Wake.

A defensive mix up allowed Boston to pull a goal back on 40 minutes, when Keen and Murphy left the ball for each other and Douglas nipped in to cross for James Cook to head home.

Carlisle restored their three goal advantage in first half injury time when Foran got on the end of a Murphy free kick to head down for Wake to claim his hat trick from close range.

With twenty minutes remaining Boston gave themselves a lifeline in spectacular fashion. Ross Weatherston’s long throw eluded the Carlisle defence allowing Douglas to majestically rise to shoulder height to power a thunderous overhead kick into the top corner.

Keen then had to save well at the feet of Anthony Elding to spare a nervy final few minutes for the Cumbrians.

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