Carlisle Utd 2 Mansfield Town 3: Having seen his side exit the FA Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy in the space of three days, Keith Curle and Carlisle United will now be left to concentrate on the bread and butter of their League Two promotion charge.

A crowd of 1,126 at Brunton Park, the lowest home attendance for more than 20 years, was present for the five-goal thriller as the Checkatrade Trophy – one of the most controversial competitions English football has seen in recent years – continued to struggle to attract supporters.

But those who stayed away missed a really entertaining game as the Blues came from 2-0 down to equalise with 10 minutes to play, only for substitute Danny Rose to crack home a goal worthy of winning any contest.

Curle will now be left to reflect on two consecutive defeats for the Blues for the first time since February 2015 and also missing out on the £20,000 in prize money that was available for a win.

The Blues boss opted to make six changes for last night’s clash.

Alex McQueen was handed his second debut at the club. Goalkeeper Max Crocombe came back in to continue his record of playing every Checkatrade Trophy game for the Cumbrians this term. There were also starts for Newcastle United loanee Macauley Gillesphey, Joe McKee, Jamie Devitt and Shaun Miller. Kevin Wright was handed a place on the bench while Charlie Wyke, who was named on the SkyBet League Two player of the month shortlist, started on the bench on his 24th birthday before coming on at the break.

But there was no place in the squad for under-18 players Cameron Salkeld and Jordan Holt, who were involved in United’s squad last time out in the competition.

Despite another low attendance, it was never likely to be a quiet evening in Carlisle, with Steve Evans in the away dugout. He was barking instructions to his players, seconds after kick-off and ensured fourth official Ben Toner was kept on his toes throughout the match.

The Stags boss felt his side were a match for Curle’s men for an hour when they met in a League Two fixture 10 days ago, which Carlisle won 5-2.

But the home team could, and perhaps should, have taken the lead in the early stages as they created three good chances.

In the fifth minute, a low cross from skipper Danny Grainger was only half-cleared by the away defence but Devitt missed the target from the edge of the area before, a minute later, McQueen almost marked his second home debut with a goal but was denied by a low save from visiting keeper Scott Shearer.

Shaun Miller then sprung the offside trap and broke clean through on goal, only to fire over.

But the visitors slowly began to come back into the game and broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. Krystian Pearce came up from the back and sent a looping header from a Chris Clements free-kick over New Zealander Crocombe.

The home faithful were then left to vent their frustration at referee David Webb as he awarded Town a free-kick when it appeared Luke Joyce had beaten Clements to a loose ball, with the tension rising inside Brunton Park.

Another Mansfield free-kick almost proved to be the undoing of the United backline again with 23 minutes on the clock, when Pearce just failed to make a telling connection with Ashley Hemmings’ right-wing delivery.

With McQueen and the returning Gillesphey among those in a new-look Carlisle back three, the hosts were seriously tested following the first goal of the game.

And, on the half hour mark, the Stags broke through United’s defence again.

Captain Lee Collins picked up a great ball over the top of the Cumbrians’ backline and he found Matt Green at the back post, who stroked into the empty net with Crocombe already committed to trying to cut out Collins’ delivery.

The Blues looked in need of a goal before half-time to get back into the contest and lift the crowd.

They were nearly gifted one, with Lambe closing down an attempted clearance from stopper Shearer but the ball fell narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Cumbrians in first-half stoppage-time when McKee hobbled off injured, making way for debutant Wright.

It was inevitable Curle would look to change things after the restart if his side were to find a route back into the encounter and in-form Wyke was brought on in the place of McQueen as United went to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

The visitors’ physio team were made to work overtime early in the second period after a collision between their defenders Rhys Bennett and Malvind Benning.

Meanwhile, home skipper Grainger was wrapped in a Terry Butcher-esque headband after he also picked up a knock and started bleeding early in the second half.

Evans had been unhappy with Carlisle’s use of towels to take throw-ins when the two sides met in their league encounter and Benning attempted to rile the home crowd by taking his time by using the towels, although he may have regretted doing so moments later when Devitt thumped the ball back against the defender’s chest.

Just as the match appeared to be petering out, leaving the Cumbrians to ponder rare back-to-back losses, Miller glanced home a sublime left-wing cross from Grainger with 18 minutes left.

Much like they had started the game, Curle’s team threatened to put the away side under pressure as they set-up a blockbuster finish and equalised on the 80th minute.

Keeper Shearer came hurtling out of his goal but substitute Wright was alive to the situation and he found Wyke, who calmly slotted home a birthday goal with plenty of Mansfield players rushing to get back on the line to no avail.

But substitute Rose came up with a stunning 25-yard effort, which flew into Crocombe’s top corner, leaving the keeper with no chance as the visitors delivered the killer blow to Carlisle’s involvement in the Checkatrade Trophy in style.