Carlisle United 1 Exeter City 0: Alessandra seals winning return as Blues go second

The forward volleyed home in the ninth minute at Brunton Park.

And his seventh strike of the season proved enough to get Chris Beech's side immediately back to winning ways in their first game for 28 days.

It also saw them up to second place in League Two.

It proved a tight contest which saw Exeter's ex-United striker Ryan Bowman have a goal disallowed for offside.

The visitors had the better of possession but Carlisle had chances to extend their lead, whilst Beech's back line were resolute to secure a ninth home win from 11.

Beech brought Nick Anderton and Jon Mellish back into his side as well as handing Offrande Zanzala his debut, with Joshua Kayode and Taylor Charters on the bench and Rod McDonald out of the squad.

United, finally back in action after a string of postponements and a Covid-19 shutdown, made a positive start and, after Joe Riley rifled the first half-chance over the bar, Beech's side took the lead.

Alessandra was involved at the outset, breaking onside onto Jack Armer's pass down the right, and when Exeter struggled to clear his low cross, Omari Patrick did well on the left to fashion space to cross - Alessandra arriving unmarked at the back post to volley home.

United remained on the front foot with Patrick twice denied from the left and the forward then firing over the bar after an Alessandra long throw fell his way.

Jon Mellish failed to get clean contact on a Callum Guy corner, while the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession without carving out many real chances.

Matt Taylor's team tested United out wide and between the lines, but Carlisle defended well when the Grecians sent the ball into the box, while Carlisle-born Bowman spun and shot over the bar after a Rhys Bennett clearance deflected his way.

Exeter started the second half positively, Nicky Law denied a penalty after a Bennett challenge, and Aaron Hayden seeing off Matt Jay after an attack from the left.

Beech then made a double change, Brennan Dickenson making his home debut for Zanzala and Joshua Kayode coming on for Patrick.

Moments later, the visitors thought they'd levelled when Bowman turned the ball home from close range, but the linesman's flag eventually went up.

At the other end, a Dickenson cross against his former club almost caught Exeter stranded, while a defensive mistake midway through the second half gifted a chance to Alessandra which the forward sent over the bar.

Both sides made further changes, Ethan Walker replacing Alessandra for United, and the sub almost set up Kayode in a flurry of penalty-box chances in the closing minutes.

Dickenson then failed to keep a header down when picked out by a Guy corner from the left.

Carlisle saw off Exeter's remaining pressure before a last-gasp Guy free-kick was tipped away by keeper Jokull Andresson.

The victory in the game which kicked off at 1pm took United up to second, and they remained there after the 3pm games across League Two.

Carlisle are three points behind leaders Cambridge, and ahead of Tuesday's opponents Forest Green on goal difference.

The Cumbrians also have at least three games in hand on all the teams around them.

United: Farman, Armer, Anderton, Hayden, Bennett, Guy, Riley, Mellish (Charters 90), Zanzala (Dickenson 55), Patrick (Kayode 55), Alessandra (Walker 82). Not used: Norman, Furman, Toure.

Goal: Alessandra 9

Booked: Anderton

Exeter: Andresson, Sweeney, Parkes, Key (Seymour 85), Page (Fisher 90), Sparkes, Atangana (Taylor 79), Law, Jay (Caprice 79), Collins, Bowman. Not used: Maxted, McArdle, Hartridge.

Booked: Parkes

Ref: Martin Coy.