Carlisle United 3-3 Rochdale: Paul Huntington rescues point as Blues fight back in high-scoring draw

The Cumbrian defender equalised at the Warwick Road End as Paul Simpson's side came from 3-1 down to draw at Brunton Park.

Jon Mellish and Kristian Dennis were also on target as Carlisle scored three in a league game for the first time since May 2021.

But it was only enough for a point as Rochdale, inspired by two-goal new boy Scott Quigley, gave them plenty of problems, Devante Rodney getting their other goal.

Quigley shot them ahead midway through the first half before Mellish impressively hooked Carlisle level before the break.

Two goals in three minutes, from Rodney and Quigley, then put Dale in command early in the second half in Jim Bentley's first league game in charge.

Ryan Edmondson, who went off injured in the first half, takes a tumble

Dennis, though, soon brought Carlisle back into things - and then Huntington converted an Owen Moxon corner to make it 3-3.

There were other injury concerns amid the high-scoring action, with Ryan Edmondson going off in the first half on his return to the side, and Huntington replaced towards the end.

Simpson recalled the fit-again pair of Morgan Feeney and Edmondson into his starting league line-up, at the expense of Corey Whelan and Omari Patrick.

Callum Guy, meanwhile, missed out through injury, as Jayden Harris got his first home league start for the Cumbrians in midfield.

Rochdale celebrate one of their two second-half goals

Rochdale boss handed a debut to deadline-day Stockport County loan striker signing Quigley, while ex-United loan midfielder Connor Malley was among the visiting subs.

The game took time to produce any chances, with Rochdale showing some bright movement in attack, and Moxon sending a 20-yard attempt wide for the Cumbrians on 13 minutes.

The hosts, though, otherwise lacked creativity and pace, and Rochdale appeared the more capable side.

Quigley lofted an attempt over the bar from the edge of the box, while Jimmy Ball ran onto a Toumani Diagouraga pass but finished weakly.

A disguised free-kick from Rochdale eventually broke for Quigley to shoot just wide - but the former Barrow man eventually capitalised to open the scoring.

As Edmondson pulled up hurt after losing the ball on halfway, Rochdale put Carlisle on the back foot and when Tyrese Sinclair drove it across from the right, it deflected into Quigley's path and he turned it in from close range.

That also proved the end of Edmondson's afternoon as an ankle injury meant he had to be replaced by Omari Patrick, while an injury to Liam Kelly also forced Bentley into a change, Ethan Brierley taking his place.

Paul Simpson gets his point across as Jon Mellish takes a throw

Carlisle were painfully short of chances past the half-hour mark - but still managed to get themselves back into the game thanks to Mellish.

After Patrick's pace and Jack Armer's cross had forced a corner, Moxon's floated delivery was won by Feeney, and then Mellish, with his back to goal, impressively hooked the ball over his shoulder and into the top corner.

It was the defender's second goal on successive weekends, and Carlisle finally came to life - and should have gone ahead two minutes later when Patrick put Dennis clean through.

His shot, though, was saved by Richard O'Donnell, and Huntington headed Moxon's next corner wide.

Jon Mellish hooks in Carlisle's first goal

Patrick had certainly given Carlisle some much-needed impetus, and he had a shot blocked late in the half before, in the 45th minute, he couldn't convert a Harris cross from close-range.

Rochdale then began the second half with a headed chance which Sinclair put wide, with Quigley then nodding a left-sided cross just off target.

The visitors, though, then made it a dire start to the second 45 for the Cumbrians with two goals in three minutes.

First, in the 51st minute, they counter-attacked through Quigley, who fed Rodney and the attacker held off Feeney to rifle past Holy.

And the Blues were then cut open again when Rochdale pounced down the right, the flag staying down and Sinclair and Ball combining before Quigley turned onto the low cross to score his second.

Mellish, centre, is congratulated after his goal

Simpson responded by bringing on Jamie Devitt for Harris, and after Gibson shot wide, Carlisle responded by reducing the arrears.

Gibson was the provider, his low cross from the right - after an impressive Devitt ball - glanced in by Dennis, the finish crossing the line before O'Donnell could scoop it out, assistant referee Bradley Hall flagging to indicate a goal.

It was the striker's sixth in seven games so far this season.

Bentley then made changes, bringing on Abraham Odoh and Jimmy Keohane, before Patrick narrowly cleared the bar from a Dennis lay-off.

The dramatic goalscoring flurry set up an end-to-end last half-hour, with United also frustrated at some of ref Adam Herczeg's decisions.

Dennis pulls one back to make it 2-3

Simpson sent Mellish into midfield as Carlisle reverted to a back four, and he just failed to keep the ball in when it broke his way to the right of goal.

But then United completed their dramatic comeback as further pressure led to a corner on the left, and Huntington met Moxon's inswinging delivery to head home at the Warwick Road End.

It was the Carlisle-born defender's first league goal since December 2017 and there were big celebrations at the Warwick Road End.

The home fans in the 5,023 crowd were now fired up as Carlisle went in search of victory, Gibson and Patrick seeing shots blocked before Huntington went down injured and had to be replaced by Corey Whelan in the 88th minute.

Huntington glances home Moxon's corner to make it 3-3

United applied more pressure in added time, with Rochdale continuing to threaten on the break, but a winner eluded both sides as Carlisle finished the day 12th in League Two.

United: Holy, Feeney, Huntington, Mellish, Back, Armer, Harris (Devitt 54), Moxon, Gibson, Edmondson (Patrick 23), Dennis. Not used: Kelly, Hilton, Whelan, Stretton, Idehen.

Goals: Mellish 36, Dennis 57, Huntington 78.

Rochdale: O’Donnell, Seriki, White (Keohane 61), McNulty (Nelson 73), Graham, Diagouraga, Kelly (Brierley 31), Ball, Sinclair (Odoh 61), Rodney, Quigley (Henderson 73). Not used: Slicker, Malley.

Goals: Quigley 22, 53; Rodney 51.

Booked: Quigley.

Ref: Adam Herczeg.

Crowd: 5,023 (326 Rochdale fans).