Crawley Town 2 Carlisle United 1: A 90th-minute goal from Crawley's Nick Tsaroulla consigned Carlisle United to defeat in Sussex.

He rifled past Magnus Norman from outside the box in the dying moments at the People's Pension Stadium.

United appeared to be on course for a point when Jon Mellish's 83rd minute goal cancelled out Tom Nichols' first-half opener.

But Chris Beech's side came away from their longest trip of the season empty-handed, and slipped to 12th in the League Two table.

It was their first defeat in 16 meetings with the Red Devils, and their first loss at Crawley's ground in the Football League.

Carlisle laid on a poor first-half display and despite second-half improvement after a triple substitution, it is now back-to-back away defeats.

Beech made one change to his starting line-up, Lewis Alessandra replacing Zach Clough in United's XI, the latter dropping to the bench, while Crawley's John Yems handed a debut to new defender Joel Lynch.

In a first half low on quality, the hosts had a very early opening when Nichols was fed from a long ball, but Carlisle got back to defend.

Brennan Dickenson had a shot blocked for the Cumbrians, who then created a good chance on 14 minutes when Kelvin Mellor's excellent cross picked out Dickenson at the far post.

But the attacker couldn't beat Glenn Morris with the header, and United otherwise made next to no impact in the final third.

Crawley, although seldom seriously testing Norman, had the edge on overall play and on 33 minutes took the lead.

Will Ferry was the provider with a deep corner from the right, and Nichols escaped defensive attention to volley in his first goal of the campaign.

Ferry drew a sharp diving save from Norman with a low shot from distance shortly before half-time and the first 45 minutes left United in need of serious improvement.

Captain Callum Guy came close to an equaliser early in the second half but his well-struck attempt from outside the box went just wide.

Jack Armer was then booked for a late challenge on Jack Powell as he caught the Crawley man with his studs raised, home fans baying for a red card.

That was his last involvement, as the defender was replaced along with Dickenson and Tristan Abrahams in a triple change, as Beech sent on Jordan Gibson, Clough and Brad Young.

It almost brought an immediate leveller as Gibson's cross from the right found Alessandra, but he headed against the right-hand post.

Crawley boss Yems then made two changes, Ashley Nadesan among them against his former club, while a positive Blues break saw Gibson set up Young only for Carlisle to be penalised for handball.

At the other end, Powell tested Norman with a whipped free-kick attempt from the Crawley left.

Carlisle then forced a good opening as Clough found Mellor in space on the left, the full-back having switched to that side after the substitutions, but after cutting into the box he could only pull his low shot wide of the post.

After home sub Kwesi Appiah wasted a counter-attacking chance, the Blues' equaliser finally did come.

Gibson was the architect with a positive run on the right before he stepped inside and flicked it through to Mellish, who turned and rifled a shot high past Morris in front of the 290 travelling fans.

It was his second goal in successive games, but Crawley almost responded when Appiah headed a corner just wide and then failed to make the most of another chance when through to the right of Norman's goal.

Yet the late wave of home pressure then did see United crack, as a Nadesan shot was blocked but Tsaroulla arrived to shoot from outside the box and rifled a superb attempt past Norman in the 90th minute.

Crawley Town: Morris, Tsaroulla, Lynch, Dallison, Francomb, Payne, Hessenthaler, Powell, Ferry (Frost 61), Ashford (Nadesan 66), Nichols (Appiah 76). Not used: Jones, Gallacher, Bansal-McNulty.

Goals: Nichols 33, Tsaroulla 90

Booked: Lynch, Ferry, Hessenthaler, Tsaroulla

Carlisle United: Norman, Mellor, Armer (Gibson 54), Whelan, McDonald, Guy, Riley, Mellish, Dickenson (Young 54), Alessandra, Abrahams (Clough 54). Not used: Jensen, Charters, Feeney, Mampala.

Goal: Mellish 83

Ref: Tom Reeves.

Crowd: 2,151 (290 Carlisle fans)