Carlisle United forced to settle for a point at home to Stevenage

But a draw is what they had to settle for against play-off rivals Stevenage at Brunton Park as the Cumbrians were knocked out of the play-off places by Blackpool, who beat Doncaster Rovers to edge ahead of Keith Curle’s side.

The Blues looked the more likely to break the deadlock but fell behind in controversial fashion early in the second half. Steve Schumacher firing in a debatable penalty.

But in-form Jabo Ibehre found the net for the third time in three games to earn the Cumbrians a share of the spoils.

The visitors had the first chance inside the first minute of the match. South African Kgosi Ntlhe let fly from outside the penalty box, although the Blues keeper Mark Gillespie seemed comfortable as he watched the ball over the crossbar.

Carlisle had their first effort in the sixth minute. A corner from skipper Danny Grainger was cleared to Macaulay Gillesphey, with the young defender firing well over from long-range with an ambitious shot on his return to the team.

And Grainger was involved again when he flashed a shot over the crossbar on the 12th minute, with the Cumbrian looking to be playing in a slightly more advanced position in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Three minutes later, there was an excellent burst down the left from Gillesphey. His left-wing cross just evaded Jamie Proctor, though.

Grainger eventually dug out a cross with his left foot for Jamie Devitt but he nodded over with 19 minutes on the clock, with United on top.

Good work by Ibehre on the left on 24 minutes saw him find space. He crossed, only for Reggie Lambe and Proctor to somewhat get in the way of each other as the move petered out.

A rare away chance then came just before the half hour. Former Gillingham and Peterborough man Charlie Lee got his head to a right-wing free-kick and keeper Gillespie comfortably saved and held.

A Gillespie clearance was flicked on by Ibehre into the path of Proctor on the 35th minute. But the Bolton loanee fired well over the crossbar when he probably should have done better.

Home supporters were calling for Spurs’ loanee Connor Ogilvie to be sent off a minute later after a collision with Gary Liddle. Referee Ben Toner just gave a booking, with United fans calling for more.

Stevenage goalkeeper Jamie Jones gave away a soft corner, failing to control the ball under little pressure towards the end of the first period. A second corner, after the first one was cleared for another set-piece, saw Michael Raynes tower above his man, only for his header after Devitt’s delivery to fall inches wide of Jones’ right-hand post.

Striker Proctor also almost nipped in at the start of first-half stoppage-time. But the Boro defence did just enough to clear the danger, although it would have been Carlisle that would have been the happier of the two teams at the end of the goalless first half.

The Boro took the lead five minutes after the restart. Lambe was adjudged to have brought down Ntlhe by referee Ben Toner, although Carlisle’s fans were clearly unhappy at the soft award of the spot-kick. Schumacher emphatically converted the penalty, finding the roof of the net to give Stevenage a surprise lead to boos from the home supporters.

Moments later, Jobi McAnuff shot just over as the away team looked to push home their advantage.

And, on 55 minutes, McAnuff picked up the ball and found Schumacher. Gillespie came out with a big save to deny him.

Away goalkeeper Jones then came out with a big punch on the hour mark to deny the on-rushing Proctor, who was trying to latch on to Devitt’s cross.

But the hosts drew level on 72 minutes. A cross from Proctor found an unmarked Ibehre at the back post and he found the net for his third goal in three games.

As United looked to go for a winner after their equaliser, away keeper Jones pulled off a good save to deny the returning Nicky Adams, 15 minutes from time.

Carlisle wasted a big chance on 79 minutes. Substitutes Adams and John O’Sullivan combined well down the right to find Ibehre, who dragged wide.

While the Blues pushed for a winner, the visitors sent a timely reminder they were also looking for a crucial third goal as former Reading, Watford and West Ham midfielder McAnuff flashed a ball across the face of goal on 86 minutes.

Adams’ delivery caused problems in the tiring Boro backline in the third minute of stoppage-time, only for Proctor to head wide, with both teams ultimately having to settle for just one point.

That means the Blues have taken two points from their Easter fixtures although, if things had turned out differently, they could probably have taken six.

Curle had made two changes from the starting line-up which had drawn 1-1 at Hartlepool. Fit-again Gillesphey took the place of Shaun Brisley, while Lambe replaced O’Sullivan.

And Curle will again have a wealth of options to choose from for Saturday’s clash at Crawley with Shaun Miller back from suspension, while Tom Miller and Jason Kennedy look to return after respective injuries.

Stevenage were without their top scorer Matt Godden through injury. Second top scorer, Ben Kennedy who recently signed a new with the Boro, also missed out, but they did manage to battle away for a hard-fought point.

Carlisle United: Gillespie, Grainger (c), Joyce, Raynes, Proctor, Gillesphey (Tomlinson 82), Ibehre, Bailey (Adams 68), Devitt, Lambe (O'Sullivan 66), Liddle.

Carlisle unused subs: Crocombe, Brisley, Waring, Nabi.

Stevenage: Jones, King (c), Wilkinson, McAnuff, Schumacher, Pett (Loft 79), Gorman (Franks 60), Ogilvie, Lee, Hinds (Wells 92), Ntlhe.

Stevenage unused subs: Day, Tonge, McKee, Gray.

Referee: Ben Toner

Assistant referee: Marc Edwards and Paul Marsden

Fourth official: Neil Sharp

Goal: Schumacher (pen, 50). Carlisle: Ibehre (72).