“It’s stuff you work on in training,” says Daniel Adu-Adjei, reminding anyone who cares to listen that last-minute goals are often far from the lucky breaks they sometimes seem.

The centre-forward’s art can be on display at any given minute, whether the first, the last or somewhere in between. Adu-Adjei’s muscle memory was activated in the 92nd at Bromley when Ben Barclay’s long throw was flicked on by Sam Lavelle and the young man from AFC Bournemouth did the rest.

His touch, turn and finish was too slick for the clustering Bromley defenders, the closest of which was Byron Webster, who at 37 is almost twice Adu-Adjei’s age. The 19-year-old showed quick feet and predatory qualities and Carlisle United benefited both in terms of the point they earned, and the recently-improving mood they maintained.

“Sam flicked it on, it sort of ricocheted and dropped nicely in front of me,” says Adu-Adjei. “I just thought I'd try and swivel and shoot and just get something on it, and luckily it went in.

“It was really good, and stuff you work on training, so I was really happy to see it come off.”

It was Adu-Adjei’s second goal for Carlisle, his first also coming in welcome circumstances given it was a winner against Barrow earlier in the campaign. Since then the striker has had a period out with injury, including time back at his parent club.

His return to Brunton Park after two months away has coincided with a certain uplift in performances. His first match back was the spirited extra-time FA Cup effort in defeat to Wigan Athletic, and then the 1-0 win at Salford City. Adu-Adjei did not play at Morecambe as Carlisle came from behind to win 2-1 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, but he returned to match-saving effect at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

There were mixed feelings overall, given that United thought a win was in their grasp given how they played. But the value of not losing is also something Carlisle have had to toil to regain over recent weeks.

“It felt great, especially in front of the really good travelling crowd,” added Adu-Adjei of his goal. “It was really nice to see them buzzing with the goal, and that we could pay back the support they'd given us the whole game.

Adu-Adjei was too quick for the advancing Byron Webster as Carlisle earned a dramatic pointAdu-Adjei was too quick for the advancing Byron Webster as Carlisle earned a dramatic point (Image: Richard Parkes)

“I was disappointed to not get the win, which we probably should have, with the amount of chances we created. But I'm really happy with the way we played and how much we dominated the game.

“I'm just really positive about how hard we made it to play against us. So we have to look at the positives and take them into next week.”

In consecutive league games now Carlisle have scored late on to earn points. This is certainly a welcome step after too many previous weeks when they appeared a softer touch.

“That adds confidence to the team that we can score late on,” says Adu-Adjei. “No matter what minute in the game it is, we've still got a chance of creating a good chance to score.”

Adu-Adjei has made nine appearances for United in this second loan spell of his young career (he was at Leyton Orient for a stint last season). His potential has long been known but delivery, in Carlisle’s predicament, is vital too.

The teenager is keen to keep on meeting that challenge, now he’s firmly back established following the knee injury he suffered in September. “I'm feeling really fit, feeling strong,” he says. “Just gaining fitness every week. Hopefully I can get back to full 100 per cent fitness soon] and we can keep getting results.”

Adu-Adjei, in his nine games, has worked under three separate managerial regimes, having been signed by Paul Simpson, then played under the caretaker trio of Steven Rudd, Mark Birch and Jamie Devitt – then returning from rehabilitation to find Mike Williamson in the head coach’s office.

It has, the striker says, been a smooth transition. “It’s been great – he [Williamson] has made it really easy. All the coaches have been really good in helping me adjust and get used to it.

Adu-Adjei says confidence is growing after recent gamesAdu-Adjei says confidence is growing after recent games (Image: Richard Parkes)

“And I think the whole team's bought into the way we play now and it shows how much we dominated [at Bromley] and how many chances we created. It works.”

Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, another Bournemouth player, are spending the season at Brunton Park. Both were prominent in the Bromley performance and were watched, in south east London, by their loan manager at the Premier League club, Matt Harrold.

The guidance and feedback from the Cherries is clear, Adu-Adjei says. “It’s just a case of making sure we’re ok and, when a team’s struggling, making sure that we try and focus on our performance. Because once you focus on your performance, then results come.

“It’s obviously really nice when they come down to games as well to watch and support.”

Carlisle, after many troubled weeks in 2024/25, are now unbeaten in three games in all competitions – four if you include the goalless draw in 90 minutes against Wigan before the Latics scored twice in extra-time – and are feeling the psychological benefit of this, according to Adu-Adjei. They will need to make the most of this considering (weather permitting) they face League Two’s third-placed side in Doncaster Rovers next, followed by the second-placed outfit in Crewe Alexandra.

“The vibe in training and in the changing room is a lot more positive now going into games,” Adu-Adjei says. “And the others are feeling a lot more confident and positive.

“It’s important to carry on with good results, and to get back-to-back results in the league is really positive. I’m just hoping to build off that confidence and keep going into next week.

“It's still very early on in the season, so I have no doubt that we'll get out of the position that we're in [United are second bottom, a point adrift]. If we keep playing like that, there's only a matter of time before we start climbing.”

Another dimension to Carlisle’s attack at Bromley was Kadeem Harris, who impressed on his first league start. He appears a sharp and canny operator whose wiles will help young contenders like Adu-Adjei.

“Yes, he's really good,” he says. “Whenever he gets on the ball, you know that with his experience and his quality, he's going to try and create something. As a striker, that's what I want from players like that. It's really nice to have him playing alongside me.”

On, then, to Doncaster, and a return to Brunton Park after three games away. “I'm really looking forward to it,” Adu-Adjei says. “Obviously, it'll be a tough game, but if we can get support like we had [at Bromley], it'll obviously help and I think we can get another good result.”