Colchester Utd 1 Carlisle Utd 1: Frankie Kent's late goal cancelled out Hallam Hope's opener to send Carlisle out of the League Two play-off places.

Forward Hope had put the Blues in front on 57 minutes when he arrived at the back post to finish.

But defender Kent stooped to head home six minutes from time as the hosts fought back.

It denied United a first win in four, and Steven Pressley's side slipped to eighth in League Two in front of 319 travelling fans in the 3,626 crowd in Essex.

An evenly-matched first-half, which featured Mark Cullen given a full-debut and Danny Grainger and Tom Parkes back in the side after injury, saw Regan Slater arrive onto a pinpoint Grainger cross in the fourth minute but the midfielder headed the chance straight at Rene Gilmartin.

Carlisle made a positive start, with Hope also enjoying some early half-chances.

Serious unroads, though, were scarce and the hosts then enjoyed a good spell of pressure, with Courtney Senior making some dangerous runs from the left.

Adam Collin saved a low Abo Eisa attempt, while Gary Liddle, on his 600th career appearane, made a superb interception to prevent Sammie Szmodics finishing off a Ryan Jackson cross.

Carlisle then nearly edged in front when full debutant Cullen's off-target shot spun off home defender Kent and landed just wide of the right-hand post.

Cullen also picked up a booking for fouling Jackson following a misplaced Callum O'Hare pass, Colchester's Jackson also yellow-carded for a lunging challenge on Hope.

Hope then landed the first blow when O'Hare's low cross, aimed for Cullen, deflected his way, the Barbados international's finish having enough power to beat an attempted block on the line and register his 11th goal of the season.

Hope fired another good chance over the bar before John McGreal's side fought back.

Luke Prosser turned a low shot straight at Collin before a series of corners and long throws eventually told, Kent heading home after a delivery from sub Brennan Dickenson broke into his path.

Szmodics went close in added time for the hosts while a last-gasp Carlisle corner ended up going a fraction wide.

Colchester: Gilmartin, Jackson (Norris 75), Prosser, Kent, Vincent-Young, Wright, Stevenson (Dickenson 69), Senior, Szmodics, Eisa (Mandron 69), Nouble. Not used: Barnes, Roberts, Eastman, Dunne.

United: Collin, Liddle, Grainger, Parkes, Gerrard, Etuhu, Slalter, O'Hare (Jones 79), Scougall (McCarron 85), Hope, Cullen (Thomas 69). Not used: Gray, Miller, Kennedy, Grant.