Scunthorpe United 1 Carlisle United 0: There is something particularly desolate about losing games like this: in empty grounds, in the cold wind and rain, a bad mistake teeing up the opposition and, for all that Carlisle United threw at this, another zero, another nil.

The relief, we have to remind ourselves, is that these matches are on at all as Covid-19 maintains its chaotic influence on life and sport. Let us remember that, however swiftly we wish to dive in on Carlisle’s failings.

It was, though, still a mighty frustrating 90 minutes in the North Lincolnshire chill. Carlisle were back in friendly mode when it came to Scunthorpe’s winner, even though Chris Beech disagreed it was a “gift” to compare with those donated to Oldham and Cambridge. It was also another of those days when you wished they could be as forthcoming when pouncing on chances of their own.

Partly their failure was because, in Rory Watson, they found a home goalkeeper in defiant mood. There are always questions, though, to ask of a team that has as much pressure yet cannot score. Their attempt count, as Beech said, is as good as anyone’s in their division. But that only suggests a wastefulness, or a lack of precision, which needs to be drilled out of them.

That is the more upbeat reading. Some of those watching on iFollow were coming to harsher conclusions about a game which, if we are honest, was far from the most attractive spectacle we will see in this weird, quarantined season.

It was often a scuffle in the cold breeze. United aimed long throws, crosses and percentage balls into Scunthorpe’s box, and did fashion three genuinely good chances, but their inability to take them (Ethan Walker, Jon Mellish and Lewis Alessandra all denied by the valiant Watson) puts Carlisle in the wrong sort of groove: losing games they shouldn’t, with Southend the previous Saturday an exception.

United were without two of that game’s most influential figures here and one cannot help but worry for their ability to inch up League Two should Omari Patrick and Gime Toure be unavailable for any length of time. With them, they look dangerous; without, they are competitive in an effort and pressure sense, but not at those times when silkier qualities are required.

Nor, particularly, were Scunthorpe on Saturday, but that again indicts Carlisle for failing to take even a point from another side who may not, with respect, turn out to be the greatest of shakes in this League Two.

Beech did not like the idea of the post-match shakedown turning into a single-issue debate on Mellish’s midfield capabilities but it is impossible to avoid reflecting on the moment that enabled Jordan Hallam to win the game for Neil Cox’s team. Mellish is Beech’s project in the centre of the pitch because the head coach believes he brings physicality and a galloping energy to Carlisle’s play. He feels these are traits they lacked in a combative division in 2019/20.

It is true that they almost brought United an equaliser, but this only came a while after a misguided pass, which allowed Alex Gilliead to send Hallam away, reflected Mellish’s lesser qualities in that department.

There is no need to start a persecution of a young player clearly giving of his best. Where Beech is concerned it is simply a matter of judgement: whether the lack of finesse in moments like that is offset by the rest. The head coach will know better than anyone that defeats tend to steer public judgement in one direction.

The rest of proceedings were controlled to a fair extent by United, but with the sometime risk of Scunthorpe jabbing their way through. Ryan Loft, recently of this parish, was an awkward opponent for Aaron Hayden while Gilliead, another ex-loanee, hunted for space in the right channel. There was plenty of sweat spilled and for a while it felt like one of those days when the first goal might arise from the first mistake.

Both sides tried long throws in a bid to provoke this, and the hosts’ Lewis Spence saw a shot deflected over. United then knifed through when Jacob Bedeau stumbled and Joshua Kayode set up Walker, but the young Preston forward, on his full debut, was denied by Watson’s fingertips.

Carlisle tried again to nudge the margins in their favour but Kayode and Watson could not profit from half-chances while Hayden had a header hacked clear. It was reasonable enough, but there often seems a fragility somewhere in this United team and duly Scunthorpe found it. Loft somehow failed to convert a Mason O’Malley cross under pressure from Rod McDonald, but a minute later Hallam was accurate, driving low across Paul Farman after Mellish had donated the ball to Gilliead near halfway.

If not a “gift”, it was at the very least a pre-paid voucher redeemable at the checkout. Gazing uphill once more, Carlisle survived another Loft effort, while in the second half you wished for a little more ball at the feet of the tricky Walker, a chance or two to arrive in Kayode’s path, or someone who might be able to thread the needle just the once.

It didn’t happen. Instead, through a combination of Scunthorpe sitting in and Carlisle forcing them back, the second 45 minutes were largely spent in the home half with the sense United were going to try and launch themselves at the door rather than unlock it.

No harm in that plan, if it works. In the 56th minute, Walker floated a lovely cross and Mellish timed his leap well. So, though, did Watson. Later, a spate of set-pieces came and went, as Kayode and Walker went close and, after Hallam blew a golden chance on the break, Alessandra was also denied by Watson.

It was one more moment to file with the others in the post-match conjecture, during which Beech had another poke at the officials. Only one fact truly mattered, though, and Carlisle will find themselves gaining the wrong sort of reputation if they can’t shake the habit of coming second in races such as this.

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.