Carlisle United 0 Cambridge United 0: Carlisle United failed to capitalise on two good chances as they played out a poor stalemate with Cambridge at Brunton Park.

Striker Olufela Olomola had their best opportunities but couldn't convert headers in either half.

Before the break he put a free header wide when picked out  at the back post by Nathan Thomas' free-kick.

And in the 52nd minute he forced a good save from keeper Dimitar Mitov when attacking a Harry McKirdy cross.

Ryan Loft also missed a good headed chance but inspiration was otherwise hard to come by as the managerless Cumbrians dropped a place to 21st in League Two in front of a crowd of 4,041.

In Gavin Skelton's second caretaker game in charge, United enjoyed plenty of the ball without punishing Colin Calderwood's side in the opening stages.

Carlisle, with Jon Mellish recalled in defence and Byron Webster dropped, survived an early George Taft shot before creating some half-chances for McKirdy.

Olomola put a weak shot wide while Loft, Luke Hannant and Paul Lewis were all booked for fouls as neither side could impose themselves on the opposition defence.

Cambridge made a substitution on 37 minutes, Jack Roles replaced by Andy Dallas.

After Olomola missed United's best chance, Cambridge's Sam Smith shot over from a good position after a Jarrad Branthwaite mistake.

The visitors later had the ball in the net but ref Sebastian Stockbridge's whistle had already gone with Mellish down holding his head.

United started the second half on top with Jack Iredale almost creating something with a solo run and Mitov denying Olomola, who had another shot blocked moments later.

At the other end, George Maris was denied by a block as Skelton sent on fit-again Stefan Scougall and Hallam Hope, the latter back from Barbados international duty.

Loft had their next opening but headed a Thomas free-kick across goal and wide.

Thomas then had a deflected shot saved by Mitov while Maris and sub Greg Taylor failed to convert late half-chances as the poor spectacle ended goalless.

United: Collin, G Jones, Iredale, Branthwaite, Mellish, Carroll, M Jones, McKirdy (Hope 72), Thomas, Loft, Olomola (Scougall 62). Not used: Gray, Elliott, Hayden, Webster, Sagaf.

Cambridge: Mitov, Knoyle, D Jones, Taft (Taylor 79), Darling, Hannant (O'Neil 64), Roles (Dallas 37), Maris, Dunk, Lewis, Smith. Not used: Burton, Norville-Williams, Knibbs, Ward.

Ref: Sebastian Stockbridge.

Crowd: 4,041 (191 Cambridge fans).