Match ends, Carlisle United 2, Cambridge United 2.
Former Carlisle striker Jabo Ibehre denied the Cumbrians a vital win by grabbing a second-half equaliser for Cambridge United at Brunton Park.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy had given Cambridge an early lead but goals from Jamie Devitt and Nathan Thomas made it 2-1 to the hosts before the break.
Ibehre, though, notched the only goal of a second half in which both sides had chances.
It took Cambridge just three minutes to open the scoring as Jevani Brown skilfully slid the ball through to Hepburn-Murphy, who judged the angle perfectly to beat Adam Collin with a low shot that flew across the goalkeeper and in at the left-hand post.
Cambridge were comfortable in possession in the early exchanges, but visiting goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov twice came to his side's aid with fine saves.
Mitov parried a 20-yard drive by Mike Jones then moments later was back in action to turn Callum O'Hare's effort over the bar.
The Carlisle equaliser finally arrived in the 37th minute when O'Hare fed the ball inside to Devitt who lashed an unstoppable right-foot shot past Mitov from the edge of the box.
Brown almost sneaked in for a second Cambridge goal, only for Carlisle to go in at the break a goal up when O'Hare again provided the assist for Thomas to cut into the area and fire home from 15 yards.
Although Ibehre was denied by a last-ditch save from Collin, he made another chance count in the 68th minute when he was sent clear by Brown, slipping the ball past the home goalkeeper from close range.
The game remained in the balance to the end, with Hallam Hope hitting the Cambridge woodwork and Collin making a last-minute save as Hayden Coulson ran through.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Carlisle
Formation 4-5-1
- 30Collin
- 2Miller
- 5Gerrard
- 6Parkes
- 3GraingerBooked at 81mins
- 16Thomas
- 8JonesBooked at 50mins
- 15Slater
- 17O'Hare
- 9HopeSubstituted forKennedyat 90'minutes
- 10DevittSubstituted forScougallat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Liddle
- 7Kennedy
- 11Glendon
- 19Simpson
- 22Scougall
- 23Branthwaite
- 29Gray
Cambridge
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Mitov
- 2Halliday
- 4Taft
- 5Taylor
- 3Carroll
- 20Brown
- 18Maris
- 6Deegan
- 27CoulsonSubstituted forLewisat 73'minutes
- 9Hepburn-MurphySubstituted forAmooat 51'minutes
- 14IbehreSubstituted forJonesat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Forde
- 7Amoo
- 11Dunk
- 16Darling
- 22Lewis
- 25John
- 26Jones
- Referee:
- Andy Haines
- Attendance:
- 4,673
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Carlisle United 2, Cambridge United 2.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jevani Brown (Cambridge United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Foul by Jevani Brown (Cambridge United).
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Nathan Thomas (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Carlisle United. Jason Kennedy replaces Hallam Hope.
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Corner, Carlisle United. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
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Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Greg Taylor (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Callum O'Hare (Carlisle United).
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Attempt missed. Brad Halliday (Cambridge United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Louis John (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).
Booking
Danny Grainger (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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David Amoo (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Danny Grainger (Carlisle United).
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Attempt saved. Stefan Scougall (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Hallam Hope (Carlisle United) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box.
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Foul by Gary Deegan (Cambridge United).
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Stefan Scougall (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.