WHEN Paul Simpson was asked last week if he had revenge on his mind before sending his team into battle against Barnet, the Carlisle manager shook his head and replied: "What happened is in the past. We just want three points."

Without Simpson's knowledge, someone must then have got the marker pens out and scrawled all over the hymn sheet before it was passed around United's dressing room.

Because Chris Lumsdon wasn't exactly preaching tolerance and calm on Thursday when the midfield plotter declared:"We're looking forward to going down there and shutting them up."

Different agendas, then, but a common target.

By the end of play at Underhill on Saturday, both men had been granted their wish.

Simpson had the victory which kept his men at the summit of League Two, while Lumsdon was able to trot from the field, mouth "going down" to the home faithful, and point to the floor in the manner of a Roman emperor delivering a death sentence.

A desire for revenge can be a dangerous thing. Sometimes it infects the brain, blurs the vision.

That's why there was no pre-match sabre-rattling from Simpson, despite Barnet's nauseating triumphalism when they lifted the Conference winners trophy after a volcanic 1-1 draw against the Blues here last April.

However, after watching Simon Hackney tear down the Underhill slope to score United's winner on Saturday, Simpson finally let slip his mask of restraint.

A few of their players were being chirpy about the fact they won the Conference, the Blues manager said.

But unfortunately for them, that doesn't count for anything at this present moment.

The implication was devastating: despite pipping the Blues to automatic promotion last season, Barnet no longer appear on United's radar. Last season's Conference title race has become yesterday's news, because Fairclough's men are now thrashing around near the bottom of League Two, while resurgent Carlisle sit on top of the entire division.

Still, victory for the Bees on Saturday could have put a serious dent in the Cumbrians bandwagon.

Worse had United failed to thwart their old foes for the fourth successive time in the league, it might have haunted them for the rest of the season.

That's why the final analysis of this 2-1 victory must read: 50 per cent points-on-the-board, and 50 per cent catharsis.

At this stage, it must be said that retribution for United was a speck on the horizon for the first 45 minutes on Saturday.

Playing up the infamous slope and into a ferocious wind, Carlisle scarcely emerged from their own half as Barnet poured on the pressure.

Ismail Yakubu and Jason Norville went close from early attacks, while Danny Livesey and his fellow defenders were repeatedly forced into aerial duty as the ball caught the North London gale. It was ugly, functional and occasionally desperate. Watchable it wasn't.

One rare gem of a passing move, though, provided a splendid chance for the hosts after 27 minutes.

40-year-old Andy Hessenthaler found Giuliano Grazioli, who moved it onto Norville. He in turn picked out Ben Strevens in space in the box, but the Bees' number 10 rifled wastefully over.

Seconds later, United nearly scored from their first authentic attack, when Peter Murphy floated in a free-kick which Holmes chested down and then volleyed against the post.

Lumsdon had two follow-up blasts repelled, but Barnet then resumed their wind-assisted onslaught.

And they nearly registered in the 45th minute, but Strevens' 30-yard free-kick was tipped over by Keiren Westwood.

Then, at last, referee Patrick Miller blew for half-time. His whistle must have sounded like soothing music to United's players. To have emerged unscathed after 45 minutes of such hostility was a triumph. Now, surely, it would be their turn to harness the elements and batter Barnet.

If only it were that simple. First, United lost Karl Hawley five minutes into the second half, the striker having failed to recover from an earlier bash to the head. Then, two minutes later, they conceded a painful goal.

It started with a Murphy foul on Norville, and then, when Nicky Bailey flung in the free-kick, Holmes rose to head clear. But the luckless Scot succeeded only in diverting it over Westwood and into United's net.

It was a brutal blow, but how splendidly did Holmes then right the wrong. From the kick-off, the big striker, burning at his recent misfortune, stretched to win a brave challenge after Chris Billy's long pass.

At once, the ball rolled across the area, past the slumbering Anthony Charles and into Michael Bridges' path. He steered it crisply past debutant keeper Matt Reed, and Holmes had his instant redemption.

Now, at last, it was the Blues' turn to invade Barnet territory in greater numbers.

Bridges and Zigor Aranalde took long-range pot-shots, and then Hackney latched onto Murphy's long ball, flicked it over a defender and shot wide, when a pass to Bridges might have brought greater reward.

No matter; 15 minutes from time, they finally had the lead. Again, Holmes was central, Carlisle's number nine playing a fine pass to Bridges on the edge of the area. The ex-Premiership man felt a gust at his ear and duly fed the overlapping Hackney, and the impressive substitute finished confidently for his third goal in a week.

Now, suddenly, there was drama at every turn. First, Aranalde smacked a free-kick against the post, before matters briefly came to the boil when Liam Hatch went in late on Murphy in the air, sparking a sizeable scuffle from which Hatch, Billy and Strevens emerged with bookings.

Then, as the game drifted into injury-time, the memory started tossing up nasty reminders of Barnet's late equaliser last April. And the hosts nearly repeated the trick this time, when Norville powered Adam Gross' 93rd minute cross towards goal.

Happily for United, Westwood leapt to his right and met the header with a wonderful, flying save, and Carlisle after this almighty late scare  were home.

Then, quite suddenly, an irresistible thought appeared in flashing lights: next season, two divisions could separate Carlisle United and Barnet.

Caution prevents us from going further, with 11 battles still to be won, but Saturday's evidence was salutary enough. For the Cumbrians, the future is sunlight and hope. For Fairclough and his Bees, however, summer is most definitely over.