Record-breaking Carlisle United are surely serious contenders after Colchester win

How powerfully, we do not yet know. The side whose unbeaten record they have just taken – 1989/90s vintage – are remembered for their Devon Loch finish to a campaign that started well.

But they were runners in the race until then – as this bunch will be, barring calamity. Put simply, you do not negotiate 11 league games without defeat, parking yourselves in the top three in the process, without having to be taken very seriously by all concerned.

That belief appears to be spreading in stages. Some of it could be heard in the roars and songs that rumbled around Brunton Park after full-time. The loudest was when Curle gave his now traditional double-armed salute to the Paddock and Main Stand before heading down the tunnel.

It will also be filtering around League Two, but in a less jolly way. United have now faced nearly half the teams in their league and none of them have yet figured out how to beat them. An entire division will look Morecambe’s way, next Saturday, to see if they can be the ones to take the Cumbrian scalp.

Colchester certainly tried for that status, and in some testing periods looked like they might break the spell. But the force is with this United group right now, and in the two key moments there was ruthlessness in blue where it did not exist in black and grey (Colchester’s monochrome away colours).

“Before the game you could tell there was a bit of nervous tension about the group,” Curle later said. “I like that. And it shows we’re able to handle it. The players don’t melt or wither. If things don’t go our way, they keep believing.”

At times on Saturday they certainly had to summon that mental rigour. The first half was a sterile spectacle and even between Carlisle’s two goals the visitors managed to make serious nuisances of themselves. But all that counts in the final analysis is that Jason Kennedy and substitute Jabo Ibehre were the only men to trouble the net; the latter against his former club.

“Jabo gives me a growl every time I name the team,” Curle added. “He wants to be starting. He’s got the bit between his teeth, and wants to ram the fact he’s not playing right down my throat.”

In this decisive mood, a fired-up Ibehre could be useful in negotiations with the “billionaire” whose interest in the club has dragged into a sixth century of days. The mystery man who was finally prompted to visit Brunton Park last week did not stick around for the football – and in the first 45 minutes this seemed a sound decision, for the game began in a rather subdued manner, as Colchester displayed capable possession skills and United found it hard to open John McGreal’s side up.

Reaction: Carlisle Utd boss Keith Curle 'massively proud' as he eyes more milestones

There were occasional outbreaks of activity, often involving set-pieces, but in between there were long spells of mediocrity – certainly where entertainment was concerned. Early roars broke out when a deflected Danny Grainger shot flashed wide and rebounded into the side-netting, deceiving some fans into thinking it had gone in, while Kurtis Guthrie set up Denny Johnstone on an early Colchester break.

But otherwise it was a case of figuring out how the game would find any real fluency. Colchester’s passing and movement was easier on the eye than United’s sometimes frantic bursts, but even that did not lead to many serious scares.

There was one smooth attack that ended with Richard Brindley setting up Tariqe Fosu-Henry for a blocked shot, and a couple of other times when McGreal’s men found glimmers down Carlisle’s left. But Mark Gillespie was troubled more by a few hanging crosses than shots, as Michael Raynes and Macaulay Gillesphey tidied up well in the centre of defence.

At the other end, a pair of ambitious handball shouts were the best of Carlisle’s attacking efforts. Nicky Adams had a volley repelled by Brindley shortly before the break, but Colchester were also parking enough men around the edge of their box to see off the sort of half-chances that United try to force from their free-kicks and long throws.

Persistence, though, is a virtue – and early into the second half came the moment they needed. After Danny Grainger’s deflected free-kick was palmed away by Sam Walker, and after the keeper had tipped a Raynes header against the bar, Adams’ corner was attacked at the back post by Raynes and Shaun Miller, and there was then enough effort in Tom Miller’s scrambled attempt to reach Kennedy at close range.

The midfielder thumped it home from a yard out, and put that record in sight. But they only got there after an eventful and not always convincing period that nearly allowed Colchester back in.

Drey Wright, speeding down the right, was first to attempt a response, skidding a shot into Gillespie’s arms after Adams had been dispossessed. Grainger got his head in the way of Wright’s next effort – while Gillespie was almost embroiled in calamity a few minutes later, mistakenly passing out to Johnstone, who stole ahead of Mike Jones but was denied at the last by Raynes.

Curle sent on Reggie Lambe, seeking greater counter-attacking pace, and was then relieved to see Sammy Szmodics blow a golden chance after sneaking onside. Amid further away pressure, United struggling to relieve their anxiety, the boss ditched his original plan to bring on Jamie Devitt to occupy McGreal’s sitting midfielder Craig Slater, instead opting for Ibehre’s presence alongside Charlie Wyke.

The decision was repaid amply. First, Ibehre got in the way of a Szmodics diving header as Colchester caused more alarm. Then, the 33-year-old made merry at the other end, rising to head Grainger’s outswinging corner past Walker, who seemed to misjudge the bounce.

Ibehre, who played for Colchester from 2012-2015, celebrated in a reasonably subdued manner – but the big man is entitled to feel pleased with his impact this week, having saved a point at Doncaster with another header four days earlier.

In the closing skirmishes, he might even have added more, heading a Tom Miller cross too close to Walker and them thumping a mishit shot from the right-back over the bar. Slater curled one close for the visitors after that but the only remaining drama concerned ref Graham Salisbury, who had to substitute himself with a hamstring injury in the 88th minute and took a good while to transfer his equipment to fourth official Simon Clayton.

That increased added time to five minutes, but Carlisle made comfortable use of a rare two-goal advantage, and cruised home. Clive Middlemass, the man in charge in 1989, was there to see his record fall, and it’s now fair to ask how far Curle can extend this mighty run before someone eventually gets in the way.

MARK GILLESPIE - Not troubled by the shots that came his way, though had difficulty with a couple of crosses, and one second-half pass nearly cost Blues.

TOM MILLER - Defensively secure enough, but Miller impressed more with his persistence as an attacking option, as he featured in some of United's brighter second half work and had a part in opener.

DANNY GRAINGER - One of few players to go close to a first-half goal, while his free-kick attempt led to breakthrough corner. Later set-piece set up Ibehre's clincher.

MICHAEL RAYNES - Curle singled out the centre-half for praise after the game, and Raynes certainly deserved his share, as he defended solidly and at times got United out of serious danger.

MACAULAY GILLESPHEY - His timing was good in the early stages, and while Colchester's frontrunners gave him some challenges, Gillesphey did enough to help keep the sheet clean.

MIKE JONES - A typically grafting performance from the midfielder, who was tidy on the ball without standing out. Eager to keep United ticking over.

LUKE JOYCE - A couple of useful deliveries nearly helped Carlisle get on top, and while some other passes went astray, it was another good, industrious showing from the in-form Joyce.

JASON KENNEDY - Admits he is still adapting to the right-sided role, but Kennedy's competitive qualities have got him back in Curle's side - and he knew where to be to poach the crucial opener.

NICKY ADAMS - In a sterile first half, Adams was involved in a couple of half-chances but nothing really clear cut. His corner helped create opener before Curle sent on Lambe.

CHARLIE WYKE - Neither of United's starting centre-forwards had many chances, and for Wyke it was an afternoon of battling against McGreal's defenders, which he did willingly.

SHAUN MILLER - Unable to continue goalscoring form as, a couple of half-chances aside, opportunities were scarce. Movement was often bright while he certainly put in plenty of graft.

Subs: Reggie Lambe (for Adams 65) - Injected some pace; Jabo Ibehre (for S Miller 74) - Powerful impact; Jamie Devitt (for Jones 87) - Late arrival ate up time. Not used: Max Crocombe, Mark Ellis, Shaun Brisley, Joe McKee.

Goals: Kennedy 50, Ibehre 79

Colchester United: Walker, Kinsella, Eastman, Brindley, Prosser, Fosu-Henry (Sembie-Ferris 63), Slater, Wright (Porter 78), Guthrie, Szmodics (Kamara 85), Johnstone. Not used: Bransgrove, Vincent-Young, Wynter, James.

Booked: Prosser

Ref: Graham Salisbury

Crowd: 4,516 (156 Colchester fans)