Free-scoring Kristian Dennis now has the record of one of Carlisle United's greatest names in his sights.

The Blues frontman has already become the first player for 60 years to score in the club's first four games of a season.

And if he can make it five in five at Grimsby Town on Tuesday, he will emulate one of United's leading legends.

For it was Alan Ashman - who went on to become Carlisle's greatest manager - who was the last player to net in United's first five matches of a campaign.

That came back in 1953/4, when centre-forward Ashman scored against Rochdale, Grimsby, Wrexham, Grimsby again and Mansfield Town.

Ashman's run of goals 69 years ago came in a Division Three North campaign where he hit 29 league goals, a decade before he managed Carlisle to two promotions from Division Four to Two - then famously returning to steer them into the top flight in 1974.

Only one other player has scored in United's first five games of a season - David Hutchinson at the start of the 1929/30 season, the club's second campaign as a Football League club.

No player, meanwhile, has ever scored in United's first six matches of a season - a record that will be in Dennis's sights at Stevenage next weekend if he finds the net at Blundell Park on Tuesday.

Dennis's goal against Swindon Town on Saturday saw him match the achievement of Billy Stark, the previous United player to score in the club's first four games of a season back in 1962/3.

Dennis had notched against Crawley Town, Colchester United and Shrewsbury Town in league and cup before scoring the Blues' 45th-minute equaliser in their latest game.

Manager Paul Simpson has praised the 32-year-old for his finishing.

"I think he’s taken confidence because of the way he’s come back for the start of pre-season," Simpson said.

"He must have done the programme he was given over the summer - he’s come back in and worked really hard.

"Even though during the runs he’s certainly not up at the front of them, he gives it everything he’s got.

"He’s now getting the rewards, because he’s running in behind.

"Sometimes when players are going through on goal you think, 'Nah, don’t fancy it'. I didn’t have any doubt with him, I just felt he was calm as you like, the ball ran smoothly for him and he slotted it away perfectly.

"As soon as we can get other players in that vein of form, I think the goals will keep flowing and start to flow even more."