Carlisle United secured a vital 3-2 win over promotion rivals Scunthorpe United at Brunton Park.
Elliot Embleton opened the scoring, and David Ajiboye bagged a brace to edge past the visitors despite Callum Roberts and Alfie Beestin finding the net.
Mark Hughes made two changes from the 1-0 defeat against Rochdale on Saturday, with Stephen Wearne and Aaron Hayden coming in for Jack Ellis and Bevis Mugabi.
The visitors had the first shot on target of the evening with Zain Westbrooke lofting an effort from the edge of the box straight into the arms of Gabe Breeze before Ross Barrows blazed a strike on the half volley over the crossbar.
Embleton gave United the lead in the 23rd minute, powering past his man to cut inside and bend a shot past Rory Mahady, who failed to keep the strike out despite getting a hand to the ball.
A driving run from Ryan Galvin saw the ball fall to Embleton, whose crafty cross had to be turned over the bar by Tyler Denton, having just evaded the reach of Luke Armstrong.
The Iron were level in the 40th minute through Roberts, who made the most of Galvin’s loose touch to race through on goal and slot the ball past Breeze.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 Scunthorpe United
Roberts was involved again after the break, linking up with Whitehall before firing a low effort straight at Breeze, who parried the effort.
United came close to re-taking the lead when Embleton’s corner delivery from the right went all the way through, clipping the far post.
The Blues’ number 14 was at the heart of the attack again, finding a way to cut and curl a shot at goal, but the effort was straight at Mahady.
Ajiboye continued his excellent run of form to regain the lead for United after Morgan Feeney headed Embleton’s free-kick across goal for the Blues’ winger to divert home.
Galvin was inches away from making amends for his earlier mistake, unleashing a shot from the edge of the box which kissed the post as it flashed wide.
Neat footwork for Ajiboye saw the ball worked to Harvey Macadam to drive forward to feed Galvin, who beat a man and hammered an effort over the crossbar.
Breeze had to be out quickly to spread himself and block an effort by Smith at close range, who had flown through on goal.
Ajiboye extended the lead in the 84th minute, receiving the ball from Hugh Parker and darting inside before firing a deft finish into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area.
Beestin pulled one back for the Iron, four minutes into stoppage time, poking home from inside the box, but some resolute defending from the Blues closed the game out.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 3-2 Scunthorpe United
Teams:
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney, Hayden, Ajiboye (Wyke 90), Galvin (Harper 80), Embleton (Parker 80), Wearne (Thomas 85), Gilliead, Williams, Armstrong (Ellis 85), Macadam
Unused subs: Mair, Conn-Clarke
Scunthorpe United: Mahady, Horton, Evans, Whitehall (Ubaezuonu 71), Roberts, Rowley (Beestin 71), Dausch (Smith 57), Ewing, Westbrooke, Denton, Barrows (Starbuck 71)
Unused subs: Jones, Dawson, Hurst
Goals:
Carlisle United: (Embleton 23) (Ajiboye 57, 84)
Scunthorpe United: (Roberts 40) (Beestin 90+4)
Yellow Cards:
Carlisle United: (Embleton 26) (Wearne 67) (Williams 73)
Scunthorpe United: (Rowley 56) (Beestin 90+8)
Red Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Scunthorpe United: N/A
Officials:
Referee - Thomas Parsons
Assistant Referee 1 - Paul Newhouse
Assistant Referee 2 - Simon Robinson
Fourth Official - Alexander Beckett
Attendance:
5226 (259 away)
