IT isn't all that long ago that Brunton Park was submereged under four feet of water.

At the same venue on Saturday, Accrington Stanley were simply subdued.

All geared up for a crucial play-off clash, the Reds failed to provide as stern a test as they needed to against the Cumbrains.

Numerous factors could have played their part in that.

Perhaps it was their inability to select new signing David Brown because of a registration hiccup, or the second-minute injury to striker Lee McEvilly - the reason for which he was withdrawn just over 15 minutes later, the shock of going behind to an unorthodox goal, or Ged Brannan's penalty miss just before half-time.

It was always going to be difficult against a Carlisle side resurrgent on the back of their first win in nine games. But John Coleman's side went into their shell on too many occasions for them to pose the Blues any real problems.

Within six minutes, Stanley were behind after central defender Kevin Gray fed Derek Holmes down the left flank. It was hard to tell whether the striker meant to lob the ball to the far post or launch the ball into the box, but whatever his motive Stanley goalkeeper Paul Crichton was left floundering and the ball dipped over him into the bottom right hand corner.

Moments later Stanley won a free kick 25 yards out after captain Peter Cavanagh was obstructed on a surge forward. Rory Prendergast's strike beat the wall, but one-time Accrington trialist Keiren Westwood got down in the Carlisle goal to make a save.

McEvilly limped off on 19 minutes after losing his battle to play through the pain barrier, and with the introduction of Ian Craney, Stanley switched from to 4-4-1-1.

Carlisle continued to pressurise with Chris Billy blazing over, Crichton saving at Karl Hawley's feet and Mike Flynn making a timely challenge on Holmes.

Stanley were handed a lifeline four minutes before the break when Chris Lumsdon handled Flynn's long throw-in into the box.

But Brannan, with three out of three previous successful spot kicks this season, went for placement rather than power, Westwood went the right and got both hands to parry before preventing a follow-up.

Crichton was still the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second half, saving Chris Beech's header then seeing Hawley drag a left-foot shot wide from just outside the area after Robbie Williams had blocked another of Carlisle's leading goalscorer's efforts.

He was looking too lively to be denied for long though, and when substitute Magno Vieira's long pass evaded the head of Flynn, Hawley ran onto it and side-footed the ball across Crichton and in off the far post.

Stanley almost pulled a goal back through Mullin's backwards flicked header but Westwood was well placed.

The introduction of Jonathan Smith was the last throw of the dice as Coleman ushered the defender up front to add height to Stanley's attack. But surges forward, and set pieces where he is most effective in that role, were few and far between and Stanley's run of 10 games unbeaten ultimately came to a disappointing end.