United's second home fixture of the week brought Colchester United to Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon.
There were four changes from the midweek team that faced Mansfield, with a first start for Leeds loanee Alfie McCalmont. He was in for Jordan Gibson.
The other three changes were fit again Jack Ellis in for Joel Senior, Joe Garner in for Kris Dennis and Omari Patrick in for John-Kymani Gordon.
United kicked towards the Warwick in the first half, and they were gifted their first chance when Wood headed weakly as the ball bounced on the edge of the 18-yard box. It became a dream first appearance for the club for Alfie McCalmont as he settled himself before slotting the loose ball home.
The home team were up for it with every 50:50 going their way, and there was a huge cheer from the crowd as Mellish mesmerised two with a drop of the shoulder and a swing of the hips.
There was half a sight for Chilvers as he spotted Holy off his line on 13 minutes. He went for an ambitious lob but it was always heading wide.
Patrick showed pace and poise at the other end when he jinked his way to the byeline. His cut back was put behind, and Moxon floated the corner high. Huntington met it but his downward header lacked power.
A deep free kick from Wood was spooned into the air by McCalmont on the edge of his box, as Colchester looked for some purchase, and Holy used fists to punch it behind. The U's kept the delivery alive, but the brief spell of pressure was ended when the stopper was fouled.
The home lead should have been doubled on 24 minutes when the hosts carved their way through the back line. Garner sent Patrick through with a deft pass, and he played it inside as Mellish arrived late. It was on his wrong foot and he was frustrated as he miscued and screwed it wide, when he had the far corner at his mercy.
More good work from Patrick, this time on the halfway line, saw him touch the ball then spin away into space. Armer streaked past him, but his reverse pass on the sprint struck a defender and Greenidge helped it on its way.
Read headed over from a Hall corner as the visitors continued to struggle to create, and it was Carlisle who went close again after a prolonged period of treatment for Ashley.
Moxon burst into space, checked back and found McCalmont, who was on patrol just outside the area. A measured attempt curled a yard past the angle of post and bar.
The football came from the home side at the start of the second half, with a move from right to left, and from back to front, that invoved tenacity from Mellish and cuteness from McCalmont and Moxon. Armer showed to cross but O'Hara was up to grasp it.
A break from the Blues with Huntington as the spark saw Garner involved again. Patrick moved across his marker to take over but his shot from range was straight into the keeper's arms.
Substitute Matt Jay blazed over with a snapshot, with what was a rare chance for the away team, but it was Carlisle replacement John-Kymani Gordon who was next to open things open. He skipped past his man before feeding it to Dennis. He cushioned it for Moxon to volley, but he couldn't keep it down.
Holy was in the right place at the right time to pick up a flicked header from Read as the game stayed tight, but Gordon slid a neat pass to McCalmont as Carlisle tried to close things off. The midfielder almost dribbled it through but it popped up off his boot and bobbled to safety.
There was a warning shot across the bows for the Cumbrians late in the day when a hopeful ball into the box was diverted towards Jay. His delivery was anything but hopeful, as he flicked it at the back stick. Akinde threw himself at it, and just failed to make contact, and Appiah was extremely disappointed as he shovelled his touch into the side netting.
Colchester stayed forward, and Read headed over from a deep corner as he managed to step into space. Holy showed safe hands as crosses came his way, but O'Hara looked nervy when he had to deal with another ropey back pass. Dennis stole it, then picked out Gibson, but his shot from a tight angle was charged down.
Whelan and Gibson linked up to make their way down the right flank and Gordon spun to volley as a deflected cross fell at his boot. It was a difficult opening and he dragged it wide.
Kris Dennis had a real chance to wrap things up with a minute left to play as Moxon rolled it to Gibson, 23-yards out. His rasper was trapped by the forward, on the penalty spot, but he was left with his head in his hands as he spooned it over the bar.
Colchester ended the game on the front foot with Jay determined to make a mark. He carried it out of midfield but a low drive was deflected wide, and Holy was up to claim the inswinging corner.
+++++++
Match Sponsor - Top Notch
Associate Sponsor - Gordons Construction
Match Ball Sponsor - AP&J Brown
+++++++
Goals
Carlisle United - McCalmont (4)
+++++++
Teams
Carlisle United - Holy, Feeney (c), Huntington, Mellish, Ellis (Whelan 80), McCalmont (Gibson 84), Guy, Moxon, Armer, Patrick (Dennis 65), Garner (Gordon 65). Subs - Kelly (gk), Harris, Robinson.
Colchester United - O'Hara, Greenidge (Newby 54), Smith (c), Appiah, Chilvers, Kelleher, Read, Ashley (Jay 54), Wood (Akinde 76), Hall, Tovide (Hopper 54). Subs - Tom Smith (gk), Kazeem, Marshall-Miranda.
+++++++
Match officials
Referee - Neil Hair
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Dallison
Assistant Referee 2 - Robert Merchant
Fourth Official - Matt Corlett
Observer - Michael Pike
+++++++
Attendance - 5,550 (148)