Carlisle United 1 Mansfield Town 0: Omari Patrick sent Carlisle United up to second in League Two with a fine finish to seal a fourth straight win against Mansfield.

The forward got his second goal of the season in the 39th minute when he controlled the ball from Jack Armer's pass and, in one movement, shot neatly past keeper Marek Stech from the right.

It proved enough for Chris Beech's high-flying side to see home their latest win.

It is now four league victories on the spin for the first time in two years, while Carlisle also claimed a third consecutive clean sheet.

The in-form Cumbrians are just two points off top spot.

Ollie Clarke had gone close early on for the Stags before United - featuring two changes - hit back.

Armer and Joe Riley came into the starting XI for the injured George Tanner and Danny Devine respectively, and United threatened through Joshua Kayode whose sixth-minute attempt was deflected wide.

Patrick almost set up Jon Mellish from the left before the overlapping Riley was denied by a brilliant goalline clearance by Ryan Sweeney when set up by Lewis Alessandra in the 17th minute.

At the other end, George Lapslie tested Paul Farman with a dipping effort from the right touchline before Carlisle upped their pressure, Patrick thwarted with a number of attempts and Callum Guy shooting narrowly wide before Patrick finally opened the scoring in style from stand-in right-back Armer's assist.

After the break, Lapslie saw a shot deflect behind while Riley was denied by a block after good work from Mellish as Carlisle pressed well.

Jordan Bowery then saw a shot on the turn blocked as the visitors searched for a leveller.

United, though, enjoyed a further spell of dominance while there was a flashpoint when Clarke appeared to stamp on Kayode after a foul, a melee resulting which saw Rhys Bennett booked.

The officials came in for further criticism from home fans as more Blues players saw yellow, including keeper Farman for taking too long over a free-kick, while Riley was denied after good work from Guy and Mellish.

Mansfield brought on ex-Blues striker Andy Cook for the last 20 minutes but chances for the visitors remained scarce with Bennett dominant at the back as United held on for the points.

Right-back Tanner was ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury in the closing stages of Saturday's 4-0 win over Stevenage.

Beech did not put a timescale on the defender's lay-off but said "it's not great news", with Tanner likely to be out for several weeks.

Midfielder Devine was also sidelined with a knee problem which will see the ex-Bradford man see a specialist this week.

Mellish, meanwhile, picked up his fifth booking of the campaign which will see him miss Saturday's trip to Forest Green.

United: Farman, Armer, Anderton, Hayden, Bennett, Guy, Riley (Furman 88), Mellish, Patrick (Toure 79), Alessandra (Reilly 90), Kayode. Not used: Dewhurst, Hunt, Dixon, Toure, Obiero. 

Goal: Patrick 39. 

Booked: Hayden, Bennett, Guy, Farman, Riley. 

Mansfield: Stech, Gordon, Benning, Rawson, Sweeney, Maris (Cook 69), Lapslie, Clarke, Charsley, Bowery, Reid (Sinclair 79). Not used: Stone, O'Keefe, Menayese, O'Driscoll, McLaughlin. 

Booked: Clarke. 

Ref: Peter Wright. 

Crowd: 2,000.