Colchester United are now without a win in four matches in League Two after they were beaten 2-0 at Carlisle United this afternoon.

Second-half goals from Jason Kennedy and Jabo Ibehre condemned the U's to defeat at Brunton Park, despite a bright first-half display.

Colchester head coach John McGreal named an unchanged side for their trip to play Carlisle at Brunton Park.

That meant a second successive league start for Denny Johnstone up front with Chris Porter, who scored the U’s equaliser at Crawley Town in midweek, on the bench.

Colchester were marginally the better side in the first half and enjoyed more of the possession but did not really test goalkeeper Mark Gillespie as much as they would have liked.

Carlisle skipper Danny Grainger's effort deflected just wide for a corner from which the on-rushing Charlie Wyke was just unable to convert at the far post.

But Colchester went close themselves when Drey Wright cut in from the right before shooting low and wide and midway through the half, Tarique Fosu’s goalbound shot was blocked in the area after good play by Denny Johnstone had set him up.

Johnstone and Tom Eastman both went close with headers before half-time and although Carlisle’s penalty appeals fell on deaf ears late in the first half when Jason Kennedys attempted shot appeared to hit Luke Prosser’s arm in the area following Luke Joyce’s ball into the box, the opening 45 minutes was a goal-less affair.

Carlisle started the second half well, with Colchester keeper Sam Walker forced to make a smart save down to his left to push away Grainger’s deflected free-kick and then push Michael Raynes’ header onto the crossbar, for a corner.

But although Walker denied Raynes again for the resultant set-piece, he could do nothing to prevent Kennedy eventually prodding Carlisle ahead from close range, with the second half five minutes old.

Colchester looked for an immediate response from the setback and after being released by the impressive Slater, winger Wright’s low shot was saved by Gillespie.

And after sending Dion Sembie-Ferris on for Fosu on the hour, the U’s missed an even better chance midway through the second half when Szmodics lifted the ball over with only Gillespie to beat, after Lewis Kinsella’s pass had picked him out in the area.

Those missed opportunities proved crucial when Carlisle doubled their lead with 11 minutes remaining.

After Grainger had sent in an inswinging corner, former U's forward Ibehre nodded down and past Walker from close range to score against his old club.

There was no celebration from the ex-U's striker though, as a mark of respect towards his former employees.

And although five minutes of stoppage-time were added at the end, the U's could not find a way back into the contest to fall to defeat.