Carlisle United 1 Fleetwood Town 3: Saunders double and debut goal for Camps seal winning start

The former Darlington man, 23, scored with two excellent headers after the break to give Joey Barton’s side a battling victory as they had to come from behind against their League Two hosts.

Barton named a side that was a mixture of youth and experience, with two debutants in Joel Coleman and Callum Camps, and Ged Garner up front. The forward signed a new short-term contract earlier in the day, just weeks after being released.

Town started the game on the front foot and created a number of early chances. Young central defender James Hill went close with an early header from captain Paul Coutts’ corner before Fleetwood almost took advantage of a mistake by Carlisle keeper Paul Farman. He spilled Josh Morris’ long-range shot but was able to make amends to turn the follow up from Camps around the post.

Saunders saw his first chance come on 24 minutes, when the ball fell to him at the far post but his half-volley was well tipped away by Farman.

While Fleetwood looked the more dangerous, Carlisle did threaten on the break and debutant goalkeeper Coleman reacted superbly to tip a Gavin Reilly volley over the bar.

Coleman had to be alert again to palm away a shot from former Blackpool man Nick Anderton that was heading for the top left hand corner, but the keeper could do nothing to stop the home side taking the lead nine minutes before the break.

Joe Riley’s right-wing corner was headed down and former AFC Fylde striker Gime Toure squeezed the ball over the line from close range despite the best efforts of Coleman.

Fleetwood were not behind for long, though, as they levelled five minutes later after a fine move.

The experienced Glenn Whelan played in Danny Andrew down the left with a perfect ball and the left winger pulled the ball back for Camps to produce a perfect first-time finish from 12 yards.

Carlisle stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half and Coleman came to Town’s rescue again, when he raced from his goal to deny Toure a shot on goal after a defensive slip-up.

Moments later Lewis Alessandra was presented with a great chance down the right but the former Morecambe man could only find the side-netting with his shot from the angle.

The home side failed to make their advantage count and Fleetwood took the lead for the first time on 57 minutes, when Saunders beat his marker to fling himself at Coutts’ corner to head home from six yards out.

Saunders added a second 12 minutes later with a fine goal. A cross came in from the left and Saunders met it with a perfect header that gave Farman no chance.

The striker went close to grabbing a hat-trick on 77 minutes, when the ball fell to him at the far post but he stabbed his final effort wide of the target.

The game ended with Carlisle reduced to10 men, when goalscorer Toure received a straight red card for his reaction after fouling Burns.

Fleetwood: Coleman, Burns, Hill, Holgate, Andrew, Coutts, Whelan (Matete 70), Camps (Johnston 76), Morris, Garner (Evans 70), Saunders; Subs not used: Cairns, Baggley, Rydel, S Morris.

Carlisle: Farman, Tanner Hayden, McDonald, Anderton, Riley, Devine (Furman 46), Alessandra, Mellish, Reilly, Toure; subs not used: Dewhurst, Hunt, Charters, Birch, Armstrong, Bell.

Referee: B Speedie.