Carlisle United are top of their division for the first time in six years.

Hat-trick hero Charlie Wyke said it was an "unbelievable" feeling to fire the goals that sent Carlisle United to the top of League Two.

The first league treble of the striker's career saw the Blues beat Mansfield 5-2 to reach the summit.

And the in-form frontman, now on 12 for the campaign, said Keith Curle's team are now desperate to stay there.

"It's the first time I've been top of League One or League Two, so it's an unbelievable feeling," Wyke said.

"We are where we want to be now - and we've got to stay there.

"We've worked so hard to get there, and we've got to keep doing that."

Saturday's victory was the first time United have scored five in a home league game since February 2010 against MK Dons.

It edged the Cumbrians ahead of Plymouth on goal difference - and saw them top their division for the first since since August 2010, when they briefly led League One.

Jason Kennedy and Reggie Lambe were also on target, while Wyke saluted skipper Danny Grainger for handing over penalty-taking duties so the frontman could claim his hat-trick 10 minutes from time.

"Everything I touch at the minute is going in, and hopefully I can keep it up," Wyke added.

"I've got to say thanks to Danny Grainger for letting me take the penalty. He knows it's a big thing for me to score goals, so I can only thank him.

"The keeper chucked the ball in my stomach and said. 'You're gonna miss this'. So there was a bit of pressure on.

"After the first half I didn't think I was going to get many chances, but I got three or four afterwards and thankfully three went in."

Wyke's rich vein of form has led manager Curle to claim the 23-year-old could attract January bids from higher clubs.

But the striker said that is not on his mind.

"I don’t really think about that - it puts you off your game if you start thinking too much about it," he said.

"I'm enjoying my time at the minute and hopefully it will continue."


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Curle, meanwhile, said he was "very proud" of United's status as leaders and added: "We've always said we were chasing first - now we've got there, we want to pull away from second.

"It's going to be a task for everyone to catch us, and we need to keep that momentum going. We keep it going by doing exactly what we've been doing."

Jabo Ibehre missed the game with a back injury which Curle hopes will be healed in time for Rochdale's visit in the FA Cup next weekend.

United's boss, meanwhile, brushed off the constant complaints by visiting boss Steve Evans about Carlisle's use of towels to dry the ball before taking long throws in Saturday's game.

Curle said: "The towels are there for them to use as well. You have to notify the opposition, tell them there are towels available in all four corners for them to use.

"If they don’t want to use them, that's down to them. I've not got a problem with it, Tom [Miller] and Danny [Grainger] can throw it with or without the towel."

Evans also described Saturday's midday pitch inspection, which followed overnight frost, as "mind games".

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