Carlisle left it late but a goal in the sixth minute of time added on gave then Blues a 2-1 win at Swindon Town.
It maintained Carlisle’s automatic push for promotion as other rivals dropped points.
Ryan Edmondson was the hero when he headed in Owen Moxon’s curling corner at the far post.
It was a telling return for the Leeds Utd loanee who had been out for over two months with a shoulder injury.
He had tested his fitness in Tuesday’s Fred Conway County Cup defeat at Workington, playing for the first time and giving it 45 minutes.
Manager Paul Simpson brought him on for Joe Garner after 69 minutes and it was from virtually the last touch of the game that he headed the winner to the delight of over 500 travelling United fans.
It had been a fairly uneventful first-half as both sides struggled to find any quality in the final third of the pitch and defences ruled.
Jack Armer, getting forward from full-back, almost nicked one for Carlisle but from close range his shot was blocked. But it was Armer who did deliver the opening goal after 51 minutes with a fine finish.
Charlie Austin had headed against his own bar under pressure at a corner and from the edge of the area Armer cracked home a great shot.
Ten minutes from time, however, the result was in the melting pot when substitute Tyrese Shade pulled the Robins level. Carlisle couldn’t clear and Shade calmly stroked home a well placed shot past Tomas Holy.
It looked like the points were going to be shared before Edmondson appeared on the scene with a match-winning header.
