The iron made it five wins out of five as they defeated fellow promotion chasers Carlisle United 2-1 at Glanford Park.

Joe Murphy made a number of decent first-half saves to keep out the Cumbrians, and the hosts then stepped things up in the second half.

Substitute Matt Sparrow headed home at the back post after a cross from Martyn Woolford.

Paul Hayes then slammed home after Woolford's powerful shot was tipped out to effectively clinch the win.

Danny Carlton pulled a goal back late on, but Scunthorpe held on and now move up to third in League One.

United made one alteration ahead of the match, as Kevan Hurst came in for Martyn Woolford.

Hurst missed last week's game at Brighton after a family bereavement, and replaced Woolford who scored at the Withdean Stadium a week earlier.

Elsewhere, Scunthorpe were unchanged as Joe Murphy started between the sticks for Nigel Adkins' side.

The defence consisted of Cliff Byrne, David Mirfin, Krystian Pearce and Marcus Williams, while the midfield line-up was Garry Thompson, Sam Togwell, Grant McCann and Kevan Hurst.

Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes started the match in attack for the hosts.

The substitutes were Josh Lillis, Izzy Iriekpen, Matt Sparrow, Martyn Woolford and Ian Morris.

Cleveland Taylor made his return to Glanford Park with the Cumbrians, and started for John Ward's side, who were unbeaten in the league up to this point.

It took just under two minutes for Scunthorpe to come close for the first time, as Hooper charged down the right and his cross just went over Ben Williams' bar.

Then, just a couple of minutes later, Thompson almost sneaked in at the far post to divert home a Hurst cross. He only just failed to get to the ball though, and the visitors breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Taylor registered the first effort on goal for the visitors when his volleyed cross-cum-short cleared the ArcelorMittal Stand.

They then had another chance on ten minutes when Danny Carlton got on the end of a Taylor throughball and fired in a low shot which Murphy saved brilliant at his feet.

Scunthorpe were certainly in the game though, and Garry Thompson headed over the crossbar from a Grant McCann corner as the clock struck 12 minutes.

John Ward's side had the next chance of the afternoon on 23 minutes when Danny Graham volleyed over the crossbar from a Taylor cross.

Just three minutes later they came even closer when Murphy dropped a cross from the left by Simon Hackney, and Cleveland Taylor volleyed the rebound into the side-netting from 15 yards.

The Iron stopper needed to be at his best though to keep out Carlton, who again had got in behind the Scunthorpe defence. He got down well to tip out the forward's strike.

There was one change at the interval for the hosts, as Iriekpen came on for Mirfin for his first appearance in three weeks.

Thompson drilled an effort over the crossbar from 25 yards, and then McCann curled another effort narrowly over as Scunthorpe tried to force their home advantage after the break.

Carlton glanced a header just wide for the away team, before Scunthorpe made a double substitution to inject some fresh impetus into their attack on the hour mark. Woolford replaced Hurst, while Sparrow replaced Thompson.

And it proved an inspired change as, two minutes later, Woolford delivered a superb cross from the left which was flicked on by Hayes into the path of Sparrow who headed past Williams from six yards. It was his first goal of the season, and perhaps the kickstart his Scunthorpe career needs.

They could have made it two on 71 minutes when Hooper got on the end of a Hayes flick-on to poke an effort past the onrushing Williams. However, Danny Livesey got back in the nick of time to clear the ball off the goal-line.

Two minutes later they managed to do so though. Woolford charged forward and sent in a powerful low effort from 35 yards which Williams spilled out. The ball landed straight at the feet of Paul Hayes, who lashed home the rebound for his fourth goal of the season.

Carlisle managed to pull a goal back on 76 minutes when Carlton got on the end of a knockdown by Scott Dobie to send the ball past Murphy from close range. It was game on again, and a tense finish looked on the cards.

Woolford almost made it three after a fine Scunthorpe counter-attack. Hayes, Hooper and Sparrow combined to set up the attacker, who chested the ball down and volleyed just wide.

Hackney could have levelled the scores on 87 minutes when a cross from Taylor was only half-cleared and his powerful effort just cleared Murphy's crossbar.

That was the last opportunity of the afternoon though, as referee Mick Thorpe blew his full-time whistle after three additional minutes.

Scunthorpe move up a place to third after this win and are next in action at Hereford on Saturday.

Iron Bar and sponsors' man of the match: Joe Murphy.

Attendance: 5,188 (589 away).