Hartlepool United 2 Carlisle United 1: Shot-shy Carlisle United were beaten at Hartlepool despite Zach Clough's first goal for the Blues.

The attacker's first-half volley was a rare positive moment for the Cumbrians in a poor showing at Victoria Park.

Gavan Holohan volleyed a 69th-minute winner for the hosts after Clough had cancelled out Tyler Burey's early opener.

It consigned the Blues to their first defeat of the League Two season in front of a bumper away support in the north east.

And the Cumbrians could hardly claim the result an injustice after struggling to make any attacking impact in the game.

Beech brought in Clough and Morgan Feeney for their first league starts, Lewis Alessandra and Brennan Dickenson dropping to the bench, where Danny Devine was also back in the squad.

Carlisle, reverting to a back three in a 3-5-2 system, were up against it for much of the first half against an energetic home side, who were unchanged and included former Blues defender Gary Liddle.

Clough was booked for handball in the third minute as he tried to attack a cross, before Pools' Will Goodwin headed over.

The striker then teed up Burey to fire home the opener after David Ferguson had got the better of George Tanner on the home left.

And confident Pools put United under further pressure as Burey saw a shot blocked by Feeney.

Holohan saw a later attempt blocked with Goodwin missing the target at the far post after being picked out by Jamie Sterry.

Carlisle came into the half a little more but couldn't make anything of their attacks or occasional moments of uncertainty in the home defence.

On 38 minutes, though, the Blues found a leveller with their first shot, as Jack Armer's cross from the left was met with an expertly-taken scoring volley by Clough.

Yet that proved a rare moment of invention from the Cumbrians who created nothing in the second half either.

A spell without any serious attacking incident at both ends unfolded before Pools boss Dave Challinor made two changes.

A second goal did not seem particularly likely but it evntually came on 69 minutes when a Blues clearance fell to Holohan - and he aimed an excellent volley high past Norman and into the top left.

Beech responded with a triple change in a bid to turn things around, Alessandra, Dickenson and Brad Young coming on.

Ferguson went close for the hosts with a free-kick after Jon Mellish had been penalised.

Carlisle sent defender Rod McDonald into attack for the closing stages, and he set up sub Young for an injury-time shot, but he pulled his attempt wide.

That was all United offered in the way of chances in a disappointing Cumbrians display, with the vocal home fans jubilant at full-time..

Hartlepool: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Liddle, Francis-Angol, Ferguson, Shelton (Daly 65), Featherstone, Holohan, Burey (Ogle 81), Goodwin (Molyneux 65). Not used: Mitchell, Cullen, Odusina, Smith.

Goals: Burey 13, Holohan 69

Carlisle: Norman, McDonald, Whelan, Feeney (Dickenson 73), Tanner, Armer, Guy, Riley, Mellish, Clough (Young 73), Abrahams (Alessandra 73). Not used: Jensen, Devine, Mampala, Toure.

Goal: Clough 38

Booked: Clough, Guy

Ref: Andy Woolmer.