A stoppage-time equaliser by Crawley captain Jimmy Smith denied Carlisle a crucial victory in their League Two play-off challenge.

The visitors had completed their comeback in the second half, after being 2-0 down, when Reggie Lambe found the net to give them a 3-2 lead.

But skipper Smith gave United's stuttering promotion bid another setback as he found the net late on.

Crawley had earlier taken a two-goal lead, before the Cumbrians' fightback.

Both goals had been scored by Crawley's top scorer James Collins.

The first was a brilliant strike from distance, before Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie gave away a penalty that was converted by Collins.

But Carlisle goals from Jabo Ibehre and Jamie Proctor, against his old club, meant the two sides went in level pegging at half-time.

Carlisle United manager Keith Curle had named an unchanged starting line-up from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Stevenage.

That meant striker Proctor started against one of his former club, while fellow former Crawley players Nicky Adams and Shaun Miller were both unused substitutes on the bench.

Top scorer Ibehre was looking to continue his red-hot form as he looked to build on the three goals he had scored in the last three games.

Carlisle United: Gillespie, Grainger (c), Joyce, Raynes, Proctor (Tomlinson 75), Gillesphey, Ibehre, Bailey, Devitt (O'Sullivan 82), Lambe (Brisley 88), Liddle.

Carlisle United unused subs: Adams, S.Miller, Crocombe, Nabi.