Alassana Jatta’s first-half header was enough to give League Two promotion chasers Notts County a 1-0 win over second-bottom Carlisle.

Jatta netted his 13th goal of the season in the 19th minute to leave County second in the table, 11 points behind leaders Walsall.

Carlisle fashioned the game’s first real opportunity. Joe Hugill raced through on goal and as the forward attempted to slide the ball beneath Alex Bass, the goalkeeper met the effort with a smart stop.

County responded well and looked poised to score when George Abbott broke through the United defence and set up Jatta, but he could only deflect the ball wide of the target.

Abbott then combined with Jatta again, this time to give the Magpies the lead, floating the ball over to the back post, where the forward leapt highest to nod home beyond Gabriel Breeze.

Abbott looked destined to create a second as he rolled the ball into the path of David McGoldrick. However, the former Sheffield United striker’s curled effort was well stopped by Breeze.

United seemed destined to equalise in the second half through Hugill, but the striker’s curled effort cannoned back off the post.