Walsall 0 Carlisle United 2: The home commentators were comparing Carlisle United’s incessant power and pressing to a “League Two Liverpool”. The Blues were perched proudly at the top of the table. And as the snow fell and Chris Beech spoke in this freezing west Midlands stadium, you felt like pressing pause on the whole, sparkling spectacle.

Football’s gods don’t often let Carlisle enjoy this sort of standing for long. There’s normally an open manhole awaiting just as they get into their stride.

So please, let this one be different. Let all 2021’s pitfalls – Covid, player departures, injuries – be adequately sidestepped. Let this remodelled, youthful, urgent United team take this challenge the full distance. Let the sight of Carlisle as first of 24 remain in its freeze-frame for a while yet.

As things stand, we can relish it for another week. Given the way coronavirus is now stalking the EFL, there’s every chance Beech’s side will find themselves suspended at the top for a longer, artificially-extended period.

At least that vision would carry us through any potential shutdown. The travesty would be if there was serious disruption to what is now, clearly, a promotion push with many of the right components, the latest being an ability to ride absences and regenerate from within.

This superior victory at Walsall was built on the same tactical principles by which Beech has propelled Carlisle in 2020/21. The additional freshness came from Taylor Charters, a young west Cumbrian whose positivity glowed in the wintry gloom.

Jack Armer’s sturdiness at left-back is another reason to believe United have more in reserve than perhaps we had feared. But this was above all Charters’ day. On his first league start the 19-year-old set up one goal, had an effective hand in another and went at Walsall with the sort of energy and bite that gives Beech a credible new option in a vital position.

Without Jon Mellish, Beech decided against the safer midfield acumen of Dean Furman. Instead he twisted on the legs, left foot and teenage hope of Charters. It was a decision in keeping with Beech’s bold stewardship of this team and it was rewarded with Charters’ brisk, confident display.

Goals in either half from Omari Patrick and Joshua Kayode capped things off and all in all Carlisle made this game look what it was: a serious player against an inconsistent opponent from the middle section of League Two.

Walsall are far from fourth tier weaklings. It is not long since they won four on the spin. Here, though, they ran dry against Carlisle. Paul Farman received minimal shot practice while there was much to admire in the way United pressed, battled, harried and, in the case of Lewis Alessandra, connected things with the application of intelligence.

“It’s two things,” Beech said, smiling as United’s first-placed status was mentioned to him. “One, it’s a long time to try and stay there, and two, there’s only one way from that point…”

Beech might be wise to sprinkle a little vinegar on things. Everyone else, though, can let their excitement run free. Not since November 2016 had United topped League Two and while they had Forest Green’s weather-related abandonment to thank in part, it cannot be denied how they earned their own part in 2021’s first-rate first weekend.

Charters was into it immediately, shooting wide after 21 seconds, Carlisle steadily pinning Walsall through their combative, interchangeable front three and the usual hive of industry behind them. There was positivity from the full-backs too and after Aaron Hayden and Charters had had further attempts, Carlisle scored a goal which had the stamp of ‘Beech Ball’ – a long Farman delivery, Kayode’s aerial work, Alessandra’s cute hold-up, Charters’ unselfish touch and Patrick’s potent finish.

It was a treat to behold, as was Charters’ next determined run which almost set something up. Wes McDonald belted a rare Walsall shot wide but United were on top to the extent that their only fault was a lack of outright ruthlessness – Kayode failing to beat Liam Roberts after the home keeper had slipped.

Defensively, Carlisle were secure. McDonald engaged Farman after one elusive run but United came close again through Joe Riley and Charters, then broke from their slightly deeper setting to score a second: Charters feeding Riley, a low cut across, Alessandra’s flick and Kayode’s bobbling finish.

Rotherham will soon need to decide whether that was one of Kayode’s last acts in blue. Carlisle’s hopes would undoubtedly be sabotaged by his loss. But there was promise, again, from the ranks when Brennan Dickenson emerged for his first appearance, Lewis Bell got his league debut and Charters almost scored on the break.

Given the variables facing the squad this month – Rhys Bennett’s retention on its own would give United a serious chance – it leaves you wary of turning 2021’s pages for fear of an unwanted next chapter. But if Beech’s Blues have taught us anything, it’s to leave our trepidation at the door, and go on.