Leyton Orient returned to the top of the League Two table with victory at Carlisle.
Having taken only two points from a possible nine in October, Idris El Mizouni and Darren Pratley returned to the starting line-up for O’s, who were then also forced into a late change before kick-off as Ruel Sotiriou replaced Paul Smyth.
And barely two minutes had been played at Brunton Park when Theo Archibald picked the ball up some 30 yards from goal and advanced to the edge of the box before firing past Tomas Holy.
Lawrence Vigouroux prevented Ryan Edmondson’s cross from reaching Jordan Gibson soon after, with Rob Hunt picking up the first yellow card of the match for a foul on Callum Guy on eight minutes.
Dennis headed wide from the free-kick but, after Sotiriou fired just wide from the edge of the box for the visitors, Edmondson nodded home an equaliser from a corner on 15 minutes.
Parity did not last long, though, as Archibald produced a superb chip over the head of Holy into the far corner of the net, following a poor clearance from the keeper.
And the Scot had the chance to complete a hat-trick on 26 minutes when teed up by Aaron Drinan, but Paul Huntington blocked his effort.
The hosts had penalty claims turned down before being reduced to 10 men on 36 minutes, as Edmondson received his marching orders for lashing out at Pratley.
And Archibald fired a fierce drive just wide of the post three minutes before the break.
The second half was barely five minutes old when Drinan put O’s 3-1 up with a fine finish after being played through, with Hunt curling just wide on 53 minutes.
Carlisle hit back through Gibson three minutes later, though, and Dan Happe headed wide from point-blank range before the hour mark.
El Mizouni made way for Jordan Brown in the first change of the day, with Charlie Kelman replacing George Moncur soon after.
And Happe produced a vital block to deny Back, before Drinan was hacked down at the other end by Gibson, who had his name taken.
Kelman was hauled down on the edge of the box on 72 minutes, but Tom James saw his effort saved by Holy before Craig Clay came on for Pratley for the last quarter of an hour of play.
Gibson sent an attempted chip high over the crossbar and Guy fired a free-kick over the target as well as Carlisle searched for a late equaliser.
And O’s had a let-off in the second minute of injury time as Gibson fired another great chance over for the hosts.
Having leapfrogged Stevenage – beaten 3-2 at home by Northampton – to return to the summit, Orient are back at Brisbane Road to host Gillingham on Tuesday.
Leyton Orient; Vigouroux, James, Happe, Sotiriou, Archibald, Moncur (Kelman 65), El Mizouni (Brown 61), Drinan, Pratley (Clay 76), Beckles, Hunt. Unused subs: Sargeant, Ogie, Wareham.
Attendance: 5,590.
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