Carlisle Utd 2 Doncaster Rovers 1: They’re only human, after all. Doncaster, that is. Keith Curle’s favourite lyrics apply again, but this time to League Two’s leaders, who were cut down on a dramatic night at Brunton Park.

Ten games unbeaten last night played a side without a clean sheet since October and winter form that was giving their fans the jitters. The result: 2-1 to the Cumbrians, an outcome that should breathe plenty of life back into their automatic promotion push.

Where there was no hope against Blackpool, there was ample against Darren Ferguson’s table-toppers. And a good thing, too, since results elsewhere would have wiped out Carlisle’s gap above the play-off places had they not produced this memorable effort on Valentine’s night.

The evening ended to the sound of fans hailing Curle’s team. Falling back in love with them, perhaps. A feisty and gutsy showing was lit up by Nicky Adams’ thumping first-half volley, before a rumble of late pressure forced Niall Mason’s late own-goal.

A blank at the back was marginally elusive against a side widely expected to return to League One in May and with some fine attacking talent. But no matter. Third beating first with a little to spare shouldn’t be a major shock but the way Carlisle had flopped three days earlier, the outcome was still a very pleasant upturn.

Was it telling, too, that a smaller crowd witnessed the downing of Donny? Maybe it’s not urban myth after all that Carlisle are more at home when there isn’t a large audience. That might be no sales pitch for the run-in, but whatever the theory, however many were there, United deserve great credit for how they fronted up here.

Even whilst on a hot streak Carlisle would have faced possibly the strongest test of their season last night. The Blues were, instead, seeking a bounce off the ropes following Saturday’s 4-1 hiding. Scrutiny remained on Carlisle’s goals-against record, but they also knew any sort of win here would send confidence sweeping back through Curle’s reshaped squad, which had Jamie Proctor back from suspension and in the starting line-up, along with Shaun Brisley, Reggie Lambe and Mike Jones, the latter given his first start since December.

It was another significant change in search of a better formula. James Coppinger’s recall, meanwhile, brought one of League Two’s pedigree players back into Doncaster’s side. A warm-up injury to Andy Butler saw Joe Wright hastily called-up shortly before kick-off.

Gary Liddle’s shift to right-back was another of Curle’s alterations and, in a quite urgent start, he fired a decent effort wide inside the first minute. Doncaster replied with a punching attack down the right and Coppinger’s off-target hit. Proctor’s early hold-up play looked strong while Jones had clearly strengthened the spine.

Nerves wobbled at times when the ball was nearer United’s goal but they did contain the leaders’ early attacks, which grew in rhythm the more Coppinger saw of the ball. John Marquis had a ninth-minute sighter which he crashed against the Warwick Road End roof. Andy Williams’ first glimpse of goal was too good to be true and Brisley intervened.

While United were full of effort heading the other way, another period of itchy defending saw some panicked clearances and then a smooth Doncaster move that put Marquis in for a wayward finish.

Carlisle’s patient efforts with the ball at the back were sometimes designed to open up space elsewhere. At times it worked, Luke Joyce and Jones aiming good balls wide, at others it was anxious viewing. Doncaster had presence when they came forward and it took a couple of balletic turns from Jones to get United out of a couple of scrapes.

Proctor, in this spell, was leading a lonely line. Carlisle’s threat against the red and white defence was limited. Another Donny foray saw Williams fail to convert a Matty Blair cross.

How nice it was, then, to see Carlisle then punish the other team’s failure to take half-chances instead of the other way around. Their opener on 34 minutes was a peach, from John O’Sullivan’s cross which cleared the cluster in the middle, to Adams’ beautifully struck volley which was simply unstoppable inside Ian Lawlor’s near post.

This was much more like it. A second was almost then grabbed by Lambe, who burst through the middle to be denied by Doncaster’s keeper.

From here United would expect to learn whether their promotion potential was truly back, but also how dangerous a wounded Donny would be. Other than Conor Grant’s persistent run and unrewarded cross from the left, Carlisle ended the half without major worries. Proctor left the pitch in discussion with ref Tony Harrington, who had given the striker few decisions, while Ferguson was also getting the bird from the Paddock over his own protests.

In all it had been a much feistier and more disciplined effort from Curle’s side than that which Blackpool had easily tamed.

After the break, the Blues very nearly scored again, as Brisley attacked a corner and Lawlor saved, and then from the next hanging cross, a punch from the keeper landed at Adams’ feet but this time the winger rifled wide.

Temperatures rose on the chilly night as Gillesphey, battling manfully at left-back, fouled in the corner and a jostling match then broke out. The defender and Doncaster’s Matty Blair emerged with a booking, while there were a few frank exchanges of opinion between the dugouts as things went on.

Through all this heat, Doncaster were not getting the better of United, yet they were always alive to slips. Joyce stumbled badly on the hour mark under pressure, and the Blues defence stretched to keep out Marquis.

Carlisle were also alert, though, Adams pouncing on a loose ball and feeding the lively O’Sullivan – his head bandaged after a couple of collisions – to cut inside and shoot wide.

There was more substance about this United attacking, a bit more devil in their intentions. Another goal would not necessarily have flattered them at this stage.

The crowd, meanwhile, felt a few Donny men were going to ground cheaply and let them know their feelings. Coppinger, in the box, and Williams a couple of times outside, were two of the culprits in the Paddock’s eyes.

Tempers were up, but so were Carlisle’s spirits. One piece of supreme line-leading by Proctor allowed Lambe to take on his man and shoot wide. Then it was back to base for more defending, with Doncaster trying regularly, if not always with invention. Curle then sent on Jabo Ibehre for Proctor, and next watched Michael Raynes miss a glorious headed chance from close range.

It was compelling and edgy, not always helped by ref Harrington and Doncaster’s regular acquaintance with the turf. One time the officials were so frazzled they gave an offside decision in the visitors’ favour but allowed them to take it several yards inside the Carlisle half.

It was cleared, and Ibehre rumbled forward before Adams arrived in support to have a shot blocked. Joyce then swivelled and had an attempt blocked. On it went, back and forth until, five minutes from time, it was clinched, as Ibehre broke clear on the left and Niall Mason inadvertently diverted his low cross over the line.

James Bailey, on for the closing minutes, had a late shot blocked as United chased an unlikely third. At the back, Brisley and co defended with their lives.

Six added minutes brought a chant of “Fergie time” from the home supporters, a scoring Tommy Rowe header in the fifth of them and a couple more frights right at the end – but eventually the faithful went home singing, with a few broken hearts repaired.