Anyone turning up to Cheltenham to watch arguably League Two's most exciting young goalscorer will have left wishing the man marking him was a few years younger too.

Clint Hill (and, in fairness, Mark Ellis) versus Mohamed Eisa looked like a contest that could determine whether Carlisle's play-off hopes could survive Easter weekend. The way 39-year-old Hill silenced the 22-goal forward was something approaching a masterclass.

There was aggression, blocks, a few streetwise nudges and some canny positional play and, by the second half, 23-year-old Eisa was making next to no impact near to Jack Bonham's goal.

If Hill was not a few months away from his 40s, Carlisle would surely be waking up today to a few faxed offers for his services. After helping his team-mates to their vital 1-0 win at Whaddon Road, the defender emerged, fresh-faced and bright, as he reflected on a job well done and the next challenge - today, against Lincoln.

On Eisa: "I've heard a lot about him. It's his first season up at this level and he's done well to score over 20 goals. I watched clips of him and I just knew he favoured his right foot more than anything. So I just tried to steer him that way, try to get my body in the way of the shots, and lucky it came off that way."

Anyone keen to learn about the lower league centre-half's arts would have taken a great deal from Hill and Ellis in United's rainswept win in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham were tricky opponents, especially in the first half, when their mobility looked sharper and more dangerous than Carlisle's 'diamond' formation.

United improved with their second-half substitutions, as Keith Curle introduced pace from the bench at a key time. There was still no shortage of defending to be done, though, and when asked if he enjoys playing his part in battles like that, Hill laughed.

"I do. You shouldn’t! You always want an easy game. But as a defender you thrive on that. If you don't, you shouldn’t be a defender.

"Cheltenham have got some good players. They were on a good little run themselves. They've got a threat, and pace out wide, so we had to ride our luck and put our bodies on the line again. They were difficult conditions too, but it was a great win, with good character."

Some players, and managers, will try to diffuse expectations, and pressure, at this time of season. It's just another game, and all that. Hill, one of the most experienced campaigners of all, cuts through that kind of talk.

"It was must-win, if we're being honest," he said.

"It was nice to get a clean sheet. We've not had one for a few weeks, which we're not too happy about. We struggled first half a bit with the formation, but we showed good character to dig in and make sure we got something. We're just happy with three points on the road."

Hill felt Curle made "good, positive substitutions" by bringing on Hallam Hope and Ashley Nadesan, whose combination of pace and direct running transformed United's attacking. He also credits the resulting formation change, which saw Jamie Devitt moved from middle to right, and Hope raiding to the left of Nadesan and Richie Bennett, as a major reason things ended so well against Gary Johnson's team.

And so, it's back to Brunton Park again, a place where United haven't lost in 2018, but which has also been a place of frustration recently, given that Curle's team lost leads against Crawley and Cambridge in their last two home games, taking two points instead of six.

Take all three against Lincoln, who are in that crucial seventh spot, and it's game on as regards the play-off push. Hill conceded the last pair of outings at HQ were not ideal but United are still in the race, still fighting.

"The 2-0 up one [against Crawley] was the hard one," he said, "because we haven't usually thrown leads like that away over the last few months. That was disappointing. You can look at it as what could have been, but it's still there, and we've still got a part to play.

"A good win [at Cheltenham] means the run keeps going, If we win [today] then the pressure's on a lot of teams. It's a big, big game at Brunton Park, another must-win game."

Hill, one of life's competitors, clearly enjoys the fact United's eight-game unbeaten run has kept them in the hunt. "I've been involved in a few seasons when it's dead now," he said. "It's not a case of a lack of motivation, but when there's nothing to play for it loses that edge.

"It's always important to have something on it towards the end of the season and the lads have responded brilliantly over the last eight games."

The backdrop to Carlisle's challenge is a debate about contracts which also includes Hill. United have been criticised by some for delaying decisions on several players and even the manager. With six games to play, many involved are little the wiser about what their future holds.

Hill, under contract until the summer, is in the same boat. "To be honest with you, you've got to look at it as a motivation," he said. "You've got to look at it and go, right, if I['m going to] get a contract here, I've got to perform and do well. I've still got to show a good attitude and perform, because my next employer might be watching me too.

"It doesn't bother me. I've been in this situation a lot. You've got to use it as a motivation, get your own standards and character right, because you never know who's watching, and you never know when it might take you."

Whether Hill would accept another contract, at United or elsewhere, is not a given either, for the former Rangers, QPR, Stoke and Tranmere veteran is still undecided on whether he will play on beyond May.

Anyone watching would quickly conclude he has miles left in the tank even at 39. The man himself has not yet made the call. "I've got a big decision to make and it's not gonna be an easy one," he said. "Let's try and do what we want to do this season, then I've got to take a few weeks out and make that big decision."

All the more reason, one imagines, to make the most of all that 2018/19 has left. After Eisa, today brings Lincoln, and the varied attacking threats of the stout Matt Rhead and the more nimble lower-league finisher Matt Green.

The Imps, unbeaten in five after dispatching Exeter 3-2 on Friday, are also stocked with experience. Hill, though, has the edge in that department. "They're a very strong opponent and it will be a tough game for us, but one that we must relish, and get up for," he said.

"We've got nothing to lose - win the game and you never know where it might take you."