Bradford City 0 Carlisle United 1: Rhys Bennett headed the only goal as Carlisle United beat Bradford to move up to fourth in League Two.

The centre-back claimed his third Blues goal as he drifted in unmarked to send a Dean Furman cross past keeper Richard O'Donnell after 57 minutes.

That proved enough for Chris Beech's side, who passed up chances to increase their margin against their struggling hosts but whose victory was in little doubt through a dominant second half.

It was a second win in four days for the Cumbrians as they remained firmly among the frontrunners in the table.

Beech's side now are just four points off the top after a first away win against Bradford since 1974.

United came closest in the first half at Valley Parade through former Bantam Omari Patrick.

The Blues - featuring Furman making his third league start in place of the banned Callum Guy - survived early Bradford attacks from Bryce Hosannah and a free Aaron O'Connor header.

Patrick then had the Blues' best first-half chance, when a Joshua Kayode long throw fell his way.

The ex-Bradford man's low shot, though, was saved by Richard O'Donnell low down.

The home keeper dived to keep out a Patrick effort from further out, before Bradford's ex-United midfielder Elliot Watt was a whisker away from scoring after being picked out on the edge of the box from a well-worked corner-kick routine.

Watt's set-piece delivery was a key feature of Bradford's most treatening moments, while Carlisle struggled to dominate in the middle of the park.

As they kept looking for the opening, Danny Devine and Patrick had further shots blocked.

For the home side, Austin Samuels was unable to make the most of a back-post chance as Bradford ended the half well.

United stepped things up after the break with Aaron Hayden unable to sent a Lewis Alessandra free-kick back across goal with Jon Mellish waiting in the middle.

Mellish turned and shot wide from the edge of the box moments later, but Carlisle then struck when Furman's cross from the left evaded Bradford's defenders, and Bennett stole in unmarked to head home at the back post.

Carlisle had chances to extend their lead but couldn't force the ball home when Alessandra picked out Hayden from a free-kick.

Later, the Blues mounted a counter-attack after clearing a corner but Patrick's eventual shot was saved.

Patrick was then denied again after a good run from the left and Nick Anderton saw a volley deflect wide.

Carlisle remained on top with Devine denied by O'Donnell and Kayode also kept out by the home keeper, Mellish then rifling over after good work by Alessandra.

Devine went close from distance after good work from Furman, with Bradford offering little threat by this stage.

Sub Gime Toure could have wrapped things up in added time when put through by Kayode, but couldn't finish off the chance as a heavy touch saw him forced wide.

United, though, were under little threat at the other end as they made it back-to-back wins.

Bradford: O'Donnell, A O'Connor, Wood, Richards-Everton, P O'Connor, Watt (French 85), Pritchard (Mottley-Henry 75), Cooke (Sutton 85), Hosannah (Scales 75), Samuels, Donaldson. Not used: Hornby, Longridge, Cousin-Dawson. 

United: Farman, Tanner, Anderton, Hayden, Bennett, Furman (Riley 90), Devine, Mellish, Patrick, Alessandra (Toure 89), Kayode. Not used: Dewhurst, Hunt, Reilly, Charters, Armer.

Goals: Bennett 57.

Booked: Hayden, Bennett.

Ref: Geoff Eltringham.