In a dramatic finish Carlisle United snatched a 2-1 win at home to Port Vale to move off the bottom of League Two.
The Blues earned only their fourth win of the season with a Jon Mellish goal in the third minute of time added on.
Mellish was there to head home a cross from Jack Robinson and provide much-needed relief for the struggling Cumbrians.
It was an improved all-round performance from Paul Simpson’s side after recent painful defeats and will give hope that they can battle their way clear of the danger zone in the second-half of the season.
Vale keeper Connor Ripley had made two good saves in the first-half to deny Sean Maguire and Jordan Gibson as United had the better of things.
So it was largely against the run of play when the Potteries side went ahead four minutes into the second-half. It was Ben Garrity who was able to reach an Ethan Chislett cross to score his ninth league goal of the season.
Maguire was close to a quick equaliser when he just turned a cross from Gibson past the post while at the other young keeper Gabriel Breeze did well twice in succession to turn away James Wilson’s drive and then block Chislett’s attempt to follow-up.
With ten minutes remaining, and Carlisle seemingly heading for another costly defeat, they were thrown a lifeline. Robinson was fouled in the box and Gibson sent Ripley the wrong way from the spot.
Urged on by the home crowd Carlisle went for the win and they made it at the death as Mellish headed the winner from another pin-point Robinson cross.
