Big match verdict: Carlisle United 2-2 Northampton Town

The win that could have put some lead in the pencil, the three points that could have sent the Blues forward with a real gust at their backs…yeah, thanks Kieron Bowie. Thanks for nothing.

That 94th-minute sickener, in its own way, reminded us for the umpteenth time what Carlisle still need, what they’re sorely trying to get: goals, a finisher or two, the ability to pounce and wrest results from various situations.

Paul Simpson was decent enough, afterwards, to praise Bowie for his cracking late finish. And rightly so – the Cobblers striker met Mitch Pinnock’s cross with a meaty, merciless first-time shot to make this 2-2. Goals remain the crucial currency whatever one’s performance level and hence Northampton deserved a point even when inferior, by and large, to a spirited Carlisle.

Hopefully United’s recruitment efforts will fill this evident void (Luke Armstrong as the latest, dominant rumour was neither confirmed nor denied by Simpson post-match). In the meantime, it’s about being as constructive as they can be, with what they’ve got and what we’re seeing.

At Reading and Blackpool there were few grounds to think optimistically but here there were. There was character and energy in Carlisle’s performance even if their propensity to make at least one goal-costing mistake per game remained, along with their failure to shut a victory down.

Tomas Holy tries in vain to keep out Northampton's opener (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Considering the bitterness of Blackpool, both in their level of display and the wider reaction to it, it’s fair to focus on the credit column first. United’s showing against an in-form Northampton was refreshing and, in some respects, gutsy.

Luke Plange, for one, has demonstrated his own fortitude in the space of a week: cheered when substituted at Bloomfield Road, man of the match for a bravely persistent attacking performance here. Jordan Gibson restored a front-foot aspect to Carlisle’s play, Jack Robinson was pleasingly adaptable in central midfield, Ryan Edmondson revived the best of himself in scoring their second goal and they came from behind to lead, which they have seldom done in 2023/24.

So yes: let’s take all that, and more, as genuinely good. This time Carlisle rode misfortune – if you can call Tomas Holy’s error that, which you probably shouldn’t – and figured out a way back. All it lacked, and it’s the biggie, is the rocket fuel of victory. As such, six-pointers against Cheltenham Town and Fleetwood Town must surely produce at least one of those to give us thoughts of a resurgence in 2024.

Joe Garner goes down under Akin Odimayo's challenge - but United's penalty appeals were ignored (Image: Ben Holmes)

First thing under the microscope, on this increasingly rainswept day, was United’s nerve after the howling criticism of Blackpool. To their credit, it emerged after Jon Guthrie had headed an early Northampton chance wide.

Carlisle, from that point, showed a better quality of passing and intent than they had for a while. Plange, on the right of the attack, was keen to carry the ball, take on his man. Gibson popped into pockets on the other side while Robinson slotted alongside the composed Dylan McGeouch and offered an amount of left-footed balance in Owen Moxon's absence.

This work resulted in a chance for Alfie McCalmont, who was also a hive of industry, and a huge penalty shout when Akin Odimayo seemed to shove Joe Garner out of the flightpath of a Plange cross. Brunton Park fumed and bubbled at referee Daniel Middleton, then roared United on to more nearly moments for Garner and Plange.

Jack Armer equalises (Image: Ben Holmes)

A cameo in the 19th minute hinted at a more assured Carlisle, as McCalmont and Josh Emmanuel made accomplished work of getting out of a tricky corner. Yet Northampton, who’d so far only flickered in an attacking respect, still managed to take the lead and it was another of those moments, sadly, which will have put more Saturday night devils into Holy’s mind.

Shaun McWilliams was released into good space by Bowie, but his shot, which flicked off Jon Mellish, ought to have met the large barrier of United’s 6ft 9in keeper at his near post. The ball instead slid through his grasp, over the line, and Simpson, soaked on the touchline, must have wondered how many more ways Carlisle could find to go avoidably behind.

The Paddock roars at half-time, though, gave you a clue at the hope their display had still offered. After the break, the comeback took a little while in developing but after Robinson clipped the crossbar, Holy saved from Sam Hoskins and Gibson occupied more white and claret bodies, Armer received the ball via an attack of stages, and his firm cross deceived Max Thompson and nestled inside the far post.

Ryan Edmondson, second left, powers home United's second goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Finally some better fortune, but fortune that was earned. And then United at a gallop. Edmondson, on for Garner, hungrily won a corner and then attacked Robinson’s wicked delivery with a pummelling header. 2-1.

Hoskins dived for a penalty which rightly wasn’t given. Still 2-1. More subs came, Sean Maguire for McGeouch for Carlisle, a cluster for the Cobblers. Still 2-1. Then the final of several speedy surges by Pinnock, a searching cross, Bowie arriving: 2-2.

And Carlisle, if we’re being truthful, just weren’t ruthless enough to smash that attack into smithereens. A side unaccustomed to winning ended the game in regrettable but painfully familiar fashion. The leap forward we’d all wished for didn’t, in the end, come.

What did, though, was at least some stomach for the fight in general. Let's make that the top line, all things considered, as we wait patiently for the cavalry to come.