Carlisle survive a fightback by Dons.

MK Dons ..........................................3 Carlisle United.................................4 CARLISLE United earned themselves a valuable three points in a game which saw them take a commanding lead with three goals in the space of 20 first-half minutes, only to be hauled back to all-square when Dons replied with three of their own with a blistering 12-minute reply.

United manager Greg Abbott said: "We wanted a response from Saturday and that is what we got.

" I am pleased for the players because they showed real character, both in this game and in the way they have picked themselves up."

The home side had the better of the early exchanges, with Sam Baldock blazing over with just 28 seconds gone when Chadwick latched onto a weak clearance from Ian Harte and set him free with a nice pass.

Carlisle took the lead against the run of play when Ian Harte sent a searching pass towards Graham Kavanagh. He carried it to the byline and laid it back towards the edge of the box to find Kevan Hurst.

The Cumbrians' midfielder, making his first start in three games, took one touch to set himself before picking his spot in the bottom corner.

The lead was doubled on 17 minutes when Kavanagh took charge of a set-piece by the edge of the left touchline. He curled it into the area, where Vincent Pericard left his marker standing before glancing it into the gaping net.

Two minutes later it was 3-0 when former Sunderland schemer Kavanagh delivered another teasing free-kick towards the penalty spot.

Pericard took his tally to four for the season as he planted his header firmly beyond the furious MK Dons stopper. However, things went from comfortable to nerve-wracking 10 minutes before half-time when Luke Chadwick pounced on a blocked shot to drill the ball beyond Adam Collin.

Chadwick registered again moments later, bringing the home side right back into it, when Devaney lifted the ball into the area following a great save from Collin.

The former Red Devil bided his time and thumped it away as the defence parted before him.

The Dons were back on level terms within two minutes of the restart when Chadwick slid a pass behind the Carlisle back four.

Sam Baldock muscled his way past Harte and swept the ball to complete the impressive fight back.

Just as it appeared Carlisle heads had dropped, Kavanagh produced another training-ground set-piece when he spotted Pericard on his own for a near-post corner.

His touch found substitute Joe Anyinsah and he could not miss as he put his side back in the lead.

Midfield terrier Tom Taiwo was shown a red card for his second bookable offence deep into time added on.

MK DONS: Gueret, Doumbe, Swailes, McCracken, Lewington, Devaney (Easter 72), Howell (Quashie 36), Puncheon, Chadwick (Johnson 79), Baldock, Wilbraham. Subs (not used): Searle, Darren Powell, Ibehre, Carrington.

Booked: Swailes. Goals: Chadwick 35, 37, Baldock 47. CARLISLE: Collin, Keogh, Harte, Livesey, Horwood, Hurst, Clayton (Anyinsah 53), Kavanagh, Taiwo, Robson, Pericard. Subs (not used): Pidgeley, Murphy, Dobie, Rothery, Burns, Kane.

Sent Off: Taiwo (90). Booked: Clayton, Taiwo, Kavanagh. Goals: Hurst 5, Pericard 17, 20, Anyinsah 67. Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey). Att: 9,459