Carlisle 0 Walsall 3 - match report

The striker bagged his first senior treble as the Saddlers cruised past a woeful Carlisle in one of their best displays of the season.

It left them six points behind League One's top six with 11 games remaining ahead of Saturday's derby with Shrewsbury.

James Chambers and Craig Westcarr replaced Ben George and James Baxendale while Adam Chambers made his 300th league appearance.

And James Chambers' introduction made an immediate impact as he won a penalty after just 90 seconds.

The right-back latched onto a neat lay-off by Febian Brandy to storm into the area only to be clattered by Mark Gillespie.

Grigg buried the spot kick and the Saddlers dominated the early stages with Brandy seeing a header blocked and Gillespie claiming Jamie Paterson's 20-yard effort.

United, subdued and toothless, lacked the urgency or penetration to unsettle the Saddlers with Aaron McCarey a spectator in the opening 20 minutes.

Grigg just missed Westcarr's teasing cross as Walsall pressed for a second before McCarey was finally called into action, palming away Liam Noble's 25-yard drive.

David Symington fired wide but they were cursory efforts from a side lacking the confidence to hurt Walsall.

The Saddlers were comfortable despite failing to build on their early lead but Sam Mantom tested Gillespie for distance as United began to tighten up after their early lapse.

But, while the Cumbrians saw more possession, McCarey was limited to catching practice as robust Walsall remained firm.

Symington fired wide twice from distance after the break to underline the hosts' desperate desire to haul themselves back into the game.

But they did little to unsettle the Saddlers and Westcarr almost doubled Walsall's lead on 56 minutes when Gillespie tipped his low 18-yard effort out.

Walsall were dominant but McCarey needed to be alert to turn Lee Miller's header wide on the hour.

Any worries the Saddlers had of a United fightback disappeared six minutes later though when they doubled their lead.

Brandy barged his way through on the left to feed Grigg who sidestepped Sean O'Hanlon to sweep into the far corner.

United almost grabbed a lifeline minutes later when McCarey spilled a cross but Paul Downing hooked Mark Beck's goalbound effort away.

The substitute then had the ball in the net on 75 minutes but was flagged offside. It was a warning to the Saddlers – one which they stamped out with four minutes left.

Brandy stormed through the United defence and when his shot was blocked Grigg fired in his hat-trick at the second attempt.