Yeovil extended their unbeaten run to five games with a hard fought victory over Carlisle United at Huish Park this afternoon.

A first half double from Ryan Mason put the Glovers two up before Ian Harte pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

However substitute Keiran Murtagh scored with his first touch to give the Glovers their third win of the season at Huish Park.

The first chance of the game came to Carlisle midfielder Tom Taiwo but his volley was wild and wide.The same player then fouled Ryan Mason but the chipped free kick went nowhere.

Mason was already beginning to run the show and his clever footwork set Sam Williams up but the big striker fired over. Two minutes later and Andy Welsh set Mason up for a  cross right across goal but no one got on the end of it.

The Glovers were pressing forward though and took the lead on twelve minutes. Craig Alcock threaded an inch-perfect through ball to Mason and the on-loan midfielder controlled it before shooting low and hard across the keeper and into the net.

Shaun MacDonald and Scott Murray were proving influential in midfield and the Welshman set up the Scot but his cross was easily held.

MacDonald then ran thirty yards along the left flank, cut inside and unleashed a shot that keeper Lenny Pidgeley held at the second attempt.

Twice in the space of five minutes the Glovers had the chance to go two up. Alcock's through ball almost set up Mason for his second before MacDonald then set Williams up but the striker pulled his shot just wide.

Scott Murray fired a low free kick in that eluded everybody but the second goal wasn't far away.

Andy Welsh put the perfect through ball to Mason who broke the offside trap and slotted it coolly into the opposite corner from his first goal to make it 2-0.

Carlisle started the second half much better and forced the pace much more and it seemed likely that the visitors could nick a goal.

With eight minutes gone of the second period, Terrell Forbes brought down Scott Dobie in the area and Ian Harte converted the spot kick for 2-1.

The Glovers took charge after the initial pressure and Alcock's powerful run down the right produced a cross that Mason controlled and curled towards the far corner but Pidgeley saved well.

Murray had an effort that soared over the bar and Steven Caulker headed a corner straight at the keeper as the Glovers went looking for a third.

The winger also had another chance after a strong run down the left but his effort curled well wide.

With twelve minutes to go came the pivotal moment when substitute Kevan Hurst's shot was brilliantly blocked by Alex McCarthy.

Craig Davies was brought on for the tiring Mason and proved a nuisance down the right in his brief spell. He broke down the right and pulled the ball back for  Nathan Jones who fired over.

Jean-Paul Kalala had a chance with six minutes left but his shot went high and wide.

The third goal was inevitable and it came from an unlikely source. Keiran Murtagh, only on the pitch for a minute, finished off a move at the far post after unselfish work from Williams and Welsh down the left.

Davies had the game's last chance when he controlled the ball, spurted forward and hit a shot across the goal.

All in all, three more points lifts the Glovers towards mid-table safety and they now lie four points from the playoffs.