United played host to the Valiants in their rearranged league fixture at Creighton on Tuesday afternoon.
And the young Blues dominated an entertaining game, and got the goals to go with it, to secure a deserved victory as the weather conditions deteriorated on a suddenly wintry afternoon.
The game took a while to settle but Carlisle created the first chance when Charters pulled wide to lose his marker. His first touch was good but his instinctive snapshot flew wide of the post.
Vale responded with a good move of their own but Lightfoot showed good concentration to make the block just as the shot came in.
United started to find their passes and a scuffed clearance left Papa with a brief sight of the target. His volley was blocked, and Barnes was disappointed only to find the side netting as he arrived late to put his boot through the ball.
The inevitable breakthrough came just before the half hour following an excellent piece of build-up play. The hosts had bodies in the box and Belchior Papa made no mistake when the ball spun his way just inside the area. The keeper had no chance as it flashed into the roof of the net.
Home tails were up and Armstrong was twice thwarted by excelletn defending as he tried to strike from close range.
The Valiants broke and they were disappointed to see a close range header balloon over the bar as it caught on the wind.
Things tightened up before the break but Carlisle almost doubled their lead in time added on when Papa found more good space. His shot had purpose but it was always heading wide.
A stunning goal from Taylor Charters doubled the advantage for the hosts as they pushed forward in the second half, and the points were all but wrapped up just 60 seconds later when Brockbank swept an excellent delivery into the mix. Kyle Soper gambled on a near post run and he got his reward as he volleyed the dipping ball into the waiting net.
Substitutes Liam Paul and Josh Galloway added fresh impetus to an already vibrant strike force and the pair tested the target on numerous occasions as they worked well together in the final third.
Galloway caused all kinds of problems with two inswinging corner deliveries which rattled back off the post, and Paul wasn't too far away with a rasping drive which needed firm hands from the stopper.
There was a sting in the tail though as Port Vale grabbed a late consolation as they took advantage of tired legs to beat the offside trap and slot the ball home via a rebound off the upright.
United - Ward, Brockbank, Barnes, Lightfoot, Birch (Lesley 72), Casson, Armstrong (Swailes 87), Charters, Papa, Kerr (Galloway 60), Soper (Paul 60).
Goals - Papa (26), Charters (52), Soper (53).