It’s four games in League 2 without a goal now for Gillingham after losing Saturday’s game at Carlisle.

Jon Mellish claimed the winner for the Cumbrians early in the second half as Gillingham once again failed to find the net.

Gillingham had tightened up defensively heading into the match but goals had been in short supply. No goals in the last four in league and cup, with just five on-target efforts in those encounters, stats that the team were determined to improve on.

While Carlisle had the week off to prepare for the visit of Gillingham, Neil Harris’ men took League 1 Exeter to penalties in the EFL Cup and won through thanks to David Tutonda’s spot-kick winner. The defender kept his starting place, his first of the season in the league to displace Ryan Law.

Carlisle’s striker Kristian Dennis had scored in all of the team’s competitive games prior to the weekend but was kept in check early on, limited to a long-range shot over the bar and dispossessed by Tutonda when looking to burst into the box.

It was fellow Carlisle forward Omari Patrick that wasted their best opportunity, a tame header missing the target from Fin Back’s pinpoint cross.

Gillingham had produced some good build-up play at times but were thwarted early on, shots from Hakeeb Adelakun and Mikael Mandron blocked by the defenders, doing a good job of protecting the goal occupied bu former Gill Tomas Holy.

Mandron was ready to pull the trigger again, as Cheye Alexander drilled a low cross into the box, but a Carlisle defender beat him to the ball. Moments later Elkan Baggott’s shot on target - the first of the match - was held by the home keeper.

Gillingham had a couple more moments before the half was up, including a save from Holy off Tutonda’s shot, but they lacked the magic to make those opportunities count.

Tutonda was already on a booking before fouling Back on the edge of the area within minutes of the second half getting under way. Referee Marc Edwards decided against issuing him a second but he was replaced by Ryan Law at the earliest opportunity.

Prior to that, although the Gills got the free-kick clear, the ball came back in and it needed a terrific save from Glenn Morris - who had been untroubled in the opening half - to deny Paul Huntington. Carlisle’s fast start to the second half was to be rewarded soon after, however.

With 55 minutes gone Mellish got on the end of Jack Armer’s back-heel inside the box and infront of Alexander, doing well to stay on his feet to squeeze the ball in past Morris, the ball possibly going in off Max Ehmer.

It prompted Gills into a double substitution and a change of shape as Mandron made way for Lewis Walker and Alexander was replaced by Scott Kashket. Harris changed the set-up to a back four.

A glancing header from Kashket shortly after his introduction wasn’t enough to trouble the handling of Holy and a better chance for Walker was frustratingly nodded wide from Will Wright’s cross.

Gillingham pressed for an equaliser, with Alex MacDonald added to the attack, but they couldn’t break their goal drought and left with nothing.

Gillingham: Morris, Alexander (Kashket 63mins), Tutonda (Law 51mins), Baggott, Ehmer, Wright, O’Keefe, Reeves, Adelakun (MacDonald 77mins), Green, Mandron (Walker 63mins), Subs not used: Lee, Turner, Carter.

Carlisle: Holy, Armer (Idehen 90mins), Moxon (Hilton 77mins), Huntington (Feeney 72mins), Gibson, Guy, Patrick (Harris 77mins), Dennis, Whelan, Mellish, Back. Subs not used: Devitt, Kelly, Stretton.

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 5,261 (237 away)