Brunton Park remains a bogey ground for Accrington Stanley as Carlisle ran out 2-0 winners in the promotion clash.
The Reds have lost on their last five trips to United and goals from Charlie Wyke and Alex Gilliead secured the victory for the Cumbrians.
It was disappointing for John Coleman's side who felt they should have had a penalty on 80 minutes for a push on Billy Kee to set up a rousing finale but the appeals were waved away.
United then had to reshuffle their line-up after 16 minutes when captain Michael Raynes was in a collision with Stanley keeper Ross Etheridge and was stretchered off.
The Reds found their feet around the 20 minute mark with a couple of decent balls into the box and a Sean McConville corner was headed over by Matty Pearson.
However, a soft free kick led to the opener on 27 minutes which had Coleman livid. It was in front of the dug-outs with Alex Gilliead playing the kick short to Brandon Comley who found the head of Ellis at the back post and he passed for Wyke to fire home.
Stanley looked to level the scores with Seamus Conneely playing Shay McCartan through but keeper Mark Gillespie denied him while captain Conneely fired inches wide minutes later.
However it was Carlisle who struck next on 38 minutes when Jabo Ibehre found Wyke who squared for Gilliead eight yards out to slot home the second.
Etheridge held onto Hallam Hope's low dangerous cross while Alex McQueen hit the bar with a cross/shot in the dying minutes of the first half.
There was a worry over Brad Halliday who needed treatment to a head wound during the half-time break and he was replaced by Liam Wakefield for the second half.
Etheridge denied Carlisle a third after the break when Wyke played in Gilliead and his close range shot was grabbed on the line by the keeper at the second attempt with Ibehre closing in.
Stanley then enjoyed another spell of pressure and came close to getting one back on 62 minutes when McConville's ball in found the head of Kee but the striker could only direct his header over the bar.
Rommy Boco came on for his third Stanley debut on 68 minutes, replacing McCartan, and Boco and Wakefield both tested Gillespie.
And Stanley were furious when, with ten minutes to go, a shot by Matt Crooks was fumbled by Gillespie and Kee was pushed by McQueen as he rushed to the loose ball with the goal at his mercy – but referee Geoff Eltringham waved away the penalty appeals to the fury of Coleman.
Scott Brown came on for his Stanley debut in injury time but Stanley left empty handed.