LEIGH'S failure to deal with set-pieces cost them dear again.

Their defensive frailties handed their opponents victory and Carlisle, following three successive defeats, were delighted to get back on to the winning track.

Two of the three goals came from free-kicks and manager Steve Bleasdale is anxious to tighten his defence.

He said: "I was disappointed because they did not look like free-kicks, but even so, we have to defend.

"We were hit by injury and suspension but the lads gave me 100 per cent and we limited them to long range shots for most of the first-half. We have to keep plugging away. I am still trying to bring in players but it is very difficult to get anybody at this time of the season."

Leigh withstood heavy pressure for long periods of the first half and held out until just before the break when Karl Hawley finally found his way past Jon Worsnop in the RMI goal after the Leigh goalkeeper parried Chris Lumsdon's shot.

Despite their sheer dominance, it took a set piece for Carlisle to double their lead when former Sunderland midfielder Chris Lumsdon fired the ball low in to the goal from a free kick.

The rout was completed with 15 minutes left, again via a dead-ball situation, when Peter Murphy was fouled by Neil Gibson, with Murphy picking himself up to score.