Carlisle United 2-2 Northampton Town: Bowie denies Blues

Goals from Jack Armer and Ryan Edmondson looked to have Paul Simpson's side on course for a comeback win over the Cobblers.

But Kieron Bowie struck in the fourth minute of added time to thwart the Blues.

Northampton had led through Shaun McWilliams' first-half goal before United fought back in front of a 6,744 crowd.

The sting in the tail leaves the Cumbrians still three points below the League One safety line, though they moved up a place to 21st - and they have to take encouragement from a purposeful performance as they prepare for the busy festive period.

McWilliams' opener in the 30th minute came as the Northampton man's deflected shot slipped through Holy's grasp.

But Armer levelled with a second-half cross which sailed over visiting keeper Max Thompson - and then sub Edmondson headed home a Jack Robinson corner in the 82nd minute.

Bowie, though, fired a Mitch Pinnock cross past Holy leaving Carlisle without a win in six league outings.

Northampton climb above Jordan Gibson (Image: Ben Holmes)

Manager Simpson made two changes to his side with Owen Moxon missing out with a hip injury and Ben Barclay dropped to the bench.

In their places came the recalled Armer and Jordan Gibson, while there was a place on the bench for youth team midfielder Aran Fitzpatrick.

Northampton boss Jon Brady named an unchanged XI which featured former United men Patrick Brough and Jack Sowerby, while the Cobblers were without injured frontman Louis Appere.

United played with good energy and intent once they'd survived an early headed chance for visiting captain Jon Guthrie.

Luke Plange, on the right, saw a well-aimed shot blocked by Guthrie as Robinson, in midfield, then saw an attempt deflected wide.

Carlisle, with the recalled Gibson influential and Plange bright, remained on the front foot, showing much more invention and energy than they had at Blackpool the previous weekend.

Alfie McCalmont tested keeper Thompson from the right, before Brunton Park was in uproar as ref Daniel Middleton failed to award the Blues a penalty.

It looked clearly as though Akin Odimayo had fouled Joe Garner as the striker prepared to meet a Plange cross but the challenge was deemed fair, to United fans' fury.

Jack Robinson went close for United (Image: Ben Holmes)

Garner had further half chances and, other than a Sam Sherring cross which just eluded Bowie, United's own goal was not coming under a great deal of danger.

But then the Cobblers broke on the half-hour and took the lead, as Bowie hooked the ball down the left to McWilliams in space and when he cut in, his low shot took a deflection off Mellish and, though Holy appeared to have it covered at his near post, the ball squirmed through his grasp and crossed the line.

Brough was booked for a foul on Plange as Carlisle looked to get back on the front foot but they couldn't force a clear opening as the first half came to a close.

United came close early in the second half as a dipping Gibson attempt forced Thompson to tip over his crossbar.

Two minutes later good work by McCalmont and Plange created a shooting chance for Robinson, and his left-footed attempt from outside the box cracked the top of the crossbar.

At the other end Sam Hoskins could have doubled Northampton's lead when Pinnock found him in the box, but Holy parried the goalbound header.

Jack Armer levels for United (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle then applied more pressure with another series of corners - one of which, from Robinson, just escaped Sam Lavelle's run at the back post.

Simpson's first change saw former Cobblers striker Edmondson on for Garner, and a few minutes later they were level.

Gibson was at the heart of the initial attack with some skilful work on the left, before it was fed to Armer, whose cross sailed over Thompson and nestled just inside the far post.

It was the left-back's first goal of the season.

It also saw a smoke device let off in a home section of the ground which brought a warning over the public address system.

Carlisle then went in search of a winner, Gibson closed down after a promising break and Plange, on one of his best Blues showings, looking for openings on the right.

And eventually they got in front when Edmondson won a corner on the right and then met Robinson's wicked inswinging delivery with a purposeful run and powerful header.

Ryan Edmondson, centre, added to Armer's goal but Carlisle were denied victory (Image: Ben Holmes)

Brunton Park erupted at the striker's first goal of the season, and Northampton's Hoskins then saw ambitious penalty claims waved away by Middleton when he went down under McCalmont's challenge.

Simpson sent on Sean Maguire for McGeouch following a composed showing from the midfielder, Brady making a late double change in a bid to salvage something.

And eventually the Cobblers denied United at the last when Pinnock's cross from the left flashed through the box and Bowie met it with a firm, first-time finish which rifled under Holy.

Carlisle forced a final free-kick but Gibson's attempt was dealt with by Thompson and United had to settle for a point.

United: Holy, Emmanuel, Armer, Lavelle, Mellish, Robinson, McGeouch (Maguire 86), McCalmont, Gibson, Plange, Garner (Edmondson 64). Not used: Breeze, Butterworth, Whelan, Barclay, Fitzpatrick.

Goals: Armer 68, Edmondson 82.

Northampton: Thompson, Guthrie (Willis 86), Sherring, Odimayo (McGowan 74), Brough, Sowerby, McWilliams (Simpson 86), Leonard, Pinnock, Hoskins, Bowie. Not used: Dadge, Monthe, Hondermarck, Haynes.

Goals: McWilliams 30, Bowie 90.

Booked: Brough, Bowie.

Ref: Daniel Middleton.

Crowd: 6,744 (371 Northampton fans).