Hartlepool 1 Carlisle United 1: It will probably only be after Monday’s match against League Two play-off rivals Stevenage that we will know whether this was a good point for Carlisle United.

But, for now, it will be likely to feel like two points dropped for the Cumbrians at the start of their Easter double-header.

They opened the scoring and looked in control of the game for much of it, but Rhys Oates equalised for Hartlepool to earn them a share of the spoils.

The Blues did have good opportunities to retake the lead but were unable to break through for a second time and were, ultimately, made to settle for a point.

Hartlepool tested Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie inside the opening minute but the Blues keeper was comfortably behind the first shot of the game, which was unleashed by Nathan Thomas from long-range. The 25-year-old keeper showing no sign of nerves early on after his mistake which cost the Cumbrians a point last time out against Notts County.

The hosts continued to have the better of the early exchanges in the first few minutes, only to fall behind as the Blues broke the deadlock with their first real chance with seven minutes on the clock.

A quick throw from skipper Danny Grainger caught out the Monkey Hangers’ defence and Jabo Ibehre calmly slotted home into the bottom corner for his second goal in two games, moving himself on to 11 goals for the season – level with Jason Kennedy.

It was also the hitman’s second goal against Pools this season after he had scored in the 3-2 win at Brunton Park earlier this campaign, while Ibehre had also had a telling impact in the same fixture at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium last term, scoring twice in another 3-2 victory for Keith Curle’s men.

A minute later, Jamie Proctor glanced wide before, on the 11th minute, John O’Sullivan almost nipped in with the hosts starting to show some real nerves as the home crowd began to show signs of frustration.

The home side did create a few decent openings, although were largely wasteful when they found themselves in good areas. Lewis Alessandra dragging wide with his opportunity on 17 minutes. But the lack of quality to turn those openings into really clear-cut chances perhaps shows why Hartlepool are fighting for Football League survival.

A really good passing move by Curle’s men on the 22nd minute ended with Jamie Devitt’s cross ultimately proving too strong for Proctor, although the build-up play was encouraging.

Another good chance for the Blues came on 27 minutes. O’Sullivan did well to cut inside and find Proctor, who released a shot. His effort was cleared off the line by Brad Walker and the Hartlepool defenders managed to block James Bailey’s follow-up.

There had been a few stoppages throughout the first half with plenty of tackles and challenges coming in. That eventually led to an enforced change for Hartlepool before the interval, with Kenton Richardson hobbling off and being replaced by Carl Magnay.

The hosts again struggled to deal with a long throw in first-half stoppage-time, as this time a Luke Joyce effort was deflected wide for a corner, which was charged down after a clever corner routine from O’Sullivan to find former Pools man Gary Liddle.

But the Cumbrians would have been generally fairly happy with their lead after a first half, in which, keeper Gillespie was not massively tested.

There was a slow start to the encounter after the restart, with the only real action of note inside the first few minutes of second half seeing O’Sullivan limp off to be replaced by Reggie Lambe.

Tensions then briefly boiled over on the 56th minute with former Morecambe and Chesterfield man Devitt taking exception to Hartlepool defender Scott Harrison.

The Monkey Hangers’ supporters did their best to roar their side back into the contest just before the hour mark, although their manager Dave Jones probably would have been wishing former Carlisle man Billy Paynter – out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury – could have been available to help fire them back into the game.

With a number of Carlisle players going down needing treatment in the early stages of the second half, the home fans began to take exception to the constant delays in play as the match ticked past the hour mark.

Pools then grabbed an equaliser which few would have seen coming on 65 minutes.

Oates charged down an attempted clearance by skipper Grainger and slotted past Gillespie.

Two minutes later, Shaun Brisley had a great chance to give Carlisle the lead again. But his header after Grainger’s free-kick was well blocked by Hartlepool goalkeeper Joe Fryer.

Jones’ men then looked to push home their advantage, while the Blues looked to retake the lead in a crucial final 20 minutes of the match.

Left-back Liam Donnelly shot wide of Gillespie’s left-hand post, 16 minutes from time, while Ibehre offered words of encouragement to the players behind him.

Ibehre then thought he had scored again on the 78th minute as he broke free to slot home, only to find a foul had been awarded against him, with the striker booked to add insult to injury.

Thomas thought he had produced a moment of brilliance to score a crucial third goal in the game. But his volley flew wide of the left-hand post, three minutes later.

With six minutes of normal time to play, a Carlisle corner dropped in the penalty box. Ibehre’s effort hit the post, while Brisley’s close-range shot was charged down and Hartlepool somehow escaped a huge scare. Devitt was booked moments later as tempers again flared.

Substitute George Waring bundled home a header in the third minute of seven in second-half stoppage-time, only to be denied when referee Boyeson signalled for a foul on Pools keeper Fryer.

Ultimately, just short of 1,000 Carlisle fans will have left disappointed, despite the Blues remaining well and truly in the play-off mix.

Meanwhile, Ben Tomlinson and Macaulay Gillesphey - back from injury - were unnamed subs.

Carlisle United: Gillespie, Grainger (c), Joyce, Raynes, Proctor (Waring 70), Ibehre, Brisley, Bailey, Devitt, O'Sullivan (Lambe 50), Liddle.

Carlisle unused subs: Gillesphey, Tomlinson, Crocombe, Joachim, Nabi.

Hartlepool: Fryer, Richardson (Magnay 36), Walker, Harrison, Donnelly, Featherstone (c), Woods, Alessandra, Oates, Among, Thomas.

Hartlepool unused subs: Dudzinski, Bates, Deverdics, Hawkins, Rooney, Rodney.

Referee: Mr Carl Boyeson

Assistant referee: Street and Siddall

Fourth official: Coy

Goal: Ibehre 7, Oates 64.