Carlisle United 1-1 Harrogate Town: Armstrong earns point

The Blues went behind to Matty Daly's goal against the run of play in the 38th minute.

But six minutes later Armstrong found the net at the second attempt to level.

That proved the end of the scoring, United unable to find a way through after the break as they moved off the bottom of League Two but still in the relegation zone.

It unfolded in front of an attendance boosted by a £10 ticket offer, Carlisle improved from the previous weekend's poor showing at AFC Wimbledon but unable to clinch a much-needed win.

Harrison Biggins went close early on with a free-kick that struck the bar, while United were improved for the introductions to the starting line-up of fit-again Callum Guy and Taylor Charters.

Dominic Sadi came close after the break while Harrison Neal denied Harrogate a late winner before Carlisle's last-gasp pressure came up short, Tyler Burey and Ethan Robson both making their debuts in the second half.

Williamson made some significant changes to his side from the XI that had started in the 4-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

There were first starts of the season for Guy and Charters after their returns from injury, while Terell Thomas returned to the XI after international duty and Armstrong was recalled against his former employers.

Matty Daly gave Harrogate the lead (Image: Ben Holmes)

Dropping out of the side were Josh Vela, Ben Barclay and Charlie Wyke, while Archie Davies missed out through injury.

On the bench were new signing Burey and fit-again midfielder Robson, both in the matchday squad for the first time.

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver named an unchanged side following their 1-0 win over Newport County last time out.

Carlisle made a positive start and came close to an early opener.

Sadi, at right-wing-back, nearly forced one inside the first 30 seconds, breaking onto a ball down the right and charging down Jasper Moon's clearance, but he declined to cut the ball back early and was then closed down in the box.

Carlisle remained on the front foot, much sharper than they had been in the early stages at Wimbledon, Sadi almost setting up Cameron Harper with a cross in the third minute.

Sadi then had a shot blocked before Charters, playing to the left of Armstrong in attack, shot over the top left corner.

United then came even closer when Biggins curled a tenth-minute free-kick against the crossbar, the ball rebounding out of the reach of arriving blue shirts.

Shortly afterwards, captain Sam Lavelle failed to make the most of a good Guy cross before United survived a scare when James Daly raced beyond the Blues defence, Harry Lewis alert to the danger.

Carlisle were soon back on the front foot, visiting keeper James Belshaw denying Armstrong a chance after a defensive misjudgement, and Belshaw then keeping out a Sadi shot.

Armstrong celebrates in front of the travelling fans (Image: Ben Holmes)

At the other end, Lewis saved from Daly and Jon Mellish was in the right place to clear the rebound before Jack Muldoon could pounce on the rebound.

United remained the dominant force and worked more opportunities around the Harrogate box, one popping up for Thomas but his volley was wayward.

Neal was next to go close, a powerful shot saved by Belshaw and the stretching Armstrong unable to convert the rebound.

But Carlisle were then hit on the counter-attack as Harrogate took the lead against the run of play.

Ref Richie Watkins played an advantage after Neal fouled Dean Cornelius and Harrogate broke down the left, Matty Foulds' cross clearing Ellis Taylor but met by the arriving Daly, who volleyed past Lewis.

United, though, made a quick response and, after Thomas' cross was cleared, Carlisle equalised, Armstrong sharp to the chance to the right of goal, Belshaw saving his first effort but the striker doing enough to send the rebound looping into the left of the net.

Armstrong celebrated by putting his finger to his lips in front of the Harrogate fans, who had given him stick earlier in the game.

The leveller - Carlisle's first goal in five games in all competitions - sent the Blues off to a good half-time ovation.

Early in the second half a long Lavelle pass almost put Sadi in, Foulds defending for Harrogate.

Sadi then came close to putting Carlisle ahead when he cut in from the right and curled a shot narrowly wide, while Lewis, at the other end, came off his line to punch clear a testing Taylor free-kick.

Williamson then handed both Burey and Robson their debuts in the 64th minute, the pair replacing Charters and Guy.

Harrogate responded by sending on Sam Folarin for Muldoon, before Sadi almost opened something up for United, curling another shot at Belshaw after drifting past his man.

New signing Tyler Burey, centre, came on for his debut in the second half (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle's earlier confidence was less evident as things went on, Taylor whipping a shot over the bar as Harrogate pressed, but United did force a chance in the 79th minute, Robson turning well, Wyke deemed onside as he ran beyond the defence but Biggins' eventual shot blocked by a sliding defender.

Robson was then denied by a defensive block a he pounced on a chance outside the box.

Neal then came to United's rescue with an excellent covering challenge after Folarin had pounced on a Mellish header before getting past Lavelle and into the box.

An opportunity then almost came for Wyke, via Harper's threaded pass, but Belshaw got there first, Biggins slicing wide in added time, Carlisle's winless league run against Harrogate continuing for a seventh game.

United: Lewis, Thomas, Lavelle, Mellish, Harper, Guy (Robson 64), Neal, Biggins, Sadi (Robinson 76), Charters (Burey 64), Armstrong (Wyke 76). Not used: Breeze, Vela, Barclay.

Goal: Armstrong 44.

Booked: Neal, Mellish, Robinson.

Harrogate: Belshaw, Sims, Foulds, O’Connor, Moon, Cornelius, J Daly, Taylor, Dooley, M Daly, Muldoon (Folarin 68). Not used: Oxley, Asare, Falkingham, Burrell, Duke-McKenna, March.

Goal: M Daly 38.

Ref: Richie Watkins.

Crowd: 8,297 (220 Harrogate fans).