Scunthorpe United 1 Carlisle United 0: Carlisle United slipped to their second defeat of the League Two season after a Jon Mellish mistake let in Jordan Hallam for Scunthorpe.

The Iron struck the only goal in the 36th minute after a Mellish pass was intercepted, Hallam then fed to shoot low past Paul Farman.

Despite the avoidable goal, Carlisle could easily have got something out of the game, but were denied by home keeper Rory Watson.

He kept out Ethan Walker from a great first-half chance and, after the break, saved superbly from Mellish and Lewis Alessandra.

Carlisle had plenty of the play at various stages but couldn't find a way back at the Sands Venue Stadium.

The Cumbrians were without injured duo Omari Patrick and Gime Toure - the former out with a new leg injury which has seen him see a specialist today, the latter with a dead leg - as Walker made his full debut and Alessandra came back into the side.

Lewis Spence saw a shot deflected over for the Iron before United had their best opening on 17 minutes, when Joshua Kayode squared to Walker who looked set to score.

Watson, though, dived to tip the young loanee's shot wide.

Ex-United man Alex Gilliead rifled wide for the hosts before Kayode failed to test Watson with a volley.

Walker had another shot saved for Carlisle before former Blues striker Ryan Loft failed to convert a cross from the left at close range.

Moments later, though Mellish gave the ball away sloppily to Gilliead, with Hallam then sending his low shot across Farman and into the bottom left corner.

Loft almost added a second before the break, shooting wide after getting the better of Aaron Hayden, while after the break it was all Carlisle without an equaliser.

Mellish almost got one, but Watson pulled off a superb save after the midfielder headed a Walker cross towards goal in the 56th minute.

Kayode and Walker both went close for the Cumbrians, before Hallam then wasted a good chance for Neil Cox's side, but most of the second-half play was in home territory, United sending in a host of corners and long throws.

Carlisle again almost levelled when Hayden slipped the ball to Alessandra - but Watson leapt to push his shot away and United were denied.

Scunthorpe: Watson, Hornshaw (Butroid 88), O’Malley (Onariase 75), Cordner, Bedeau, Hippolyte, Hallam, Vincent (Beeston 78), Spence, Gilliead, Loft. Not used: Kelsey, Eisa, Green, Jarvis.

Goal: Hallam 36

Booked: Beestin

Carlisle: Farman, Tanner (Hunt 85), Anderton, Hayden, McDonald, Furman (Reilly 71), Guy (Devine 77), Mellish, Alessandra, Walker, Kayode. Not used: Dewhurst, Riley, Charters, Bell.

Ref: Peter Wright.