Carlisle United 1 Notts County 1: Hallam Hope put Carlisle ahead but Ryan Yates' second-half equaliser denied the Blues an elusive home win.

Hope stabbed the Blues in front midway through an impressive first-half performance from Keith Curle's side.

But the second-placed visitors improved after the break and levelled on 58 minutes when Yates converted Matt Tootle's cross.

Neither side could find another goal, as United slipped a position to 16th in League Two in front of 4,730 fans.

It is now one home win from eight league games and 10 in all competitions at Brunton Park for the Blues this campaign.

United could have led on eight minutes, when James Brown's cross reached Tom Miller, but keeper Ross Fitzsimons denied the defender, who was again playing at left-back for the injured Danny Grainger.

The visiting gloveman rescued Notts again on 17 minutes, making a fine double save from Hope and Reggie Lambe.

At the other end, Mike Jones' tackle on Jon Stead saved Carlisle in the opening seconds, while Jorge Grant volleyed wide from a good position.

Hope then struck on 25 minutes, following in from very close range after Jamie Devitt headed Nicky Adams' cross into the six-yard box.

Nine minutes after Hope's opener there was a loud bang heard in the Warwick Road End.

The game continued as stewards moved into the stand to investigate what appeared to be a firework having been let off.

United have yet to comment on the incident.

Towards the end of the first half, meanwhile, Hope was denied by Fitzsimons after good work from Devitt.

At the other end, Jack Bonham saved well from Tootle on the stroke of half-time.

After the break, ex-United defender Shaun Brisley volleyed just wide for Notts.

The visitors then levelled when Terry Hawkridge fed the overlapping Tootle in space on the right and his cross was steered in by Yates.

United's own attacking threat faded as Kevin Nolan's side had the better of the second half.

They went close to a second on 73 minutes, when Shola Ameobi headed Grant's cross against the post.

Gary Liddle's tackle then denied sub Lewis Alessandra when the Notts man looked set to score.

Blues sub Richie Bennett, back from suspension, went close from long range but United struggled to trouble the visitors for much of the second 45 minutes.

Yates headed over in stoppage time but neither side could find a winner.

Hope came into the side as fellow frontman Shaun Miller started a two-match retrospective diving ban.

Manager Curle added youth team defender Aiden Hutchinson to his substitutes, with Jason Kennedy also out of the squad.

Cumbrian keeper Adam Collin missed out through injury for the Magpies.

United: Bonham, Brown, T Miller, Hill, Liddle, Joyce, Jones, Devitt (Rigg 79), Adams, Lambe, Hope (Bennett 64). Subs: George, Nabi, Cosgrove, Salkeld, Hutchinson.

Notts County: Fitzsimons, Tootle (Hunt 90), Dickinson, Duffy, Brisley, Hawkridge, Hewitt, Yates, Grant, Ameobi (Smith 89), Stead (Alessandra 79). Subs: Pindroch, Walker, Milsom, Forte.