Carlisle United 2 Scunthorpe United 2: Brennan Dickenson rescued a point for Carlisle United in the 95th minute against Scunthorpe.

The substitute headed home a cross from fellow scorer Jordan Gibson as the Blues fought back at the death.

It had long seemed an unlikely comeback as Carlisle trailed 2-0 at the break amid an often dire showing.

But full debutant Gibson drilled home his first United goal in the 82nd minute to give Carlisle hope.

And Dickenson then netted with almost the final touch of the game as Carlisle clung onto their unbeaten home record in front of 4,499 fans at Brunton Park.

It got the Cumbrians out of jail after trailing from the third minute to a second-bottom Iron side who had not won away from home since March.

Aaron Jarvis headed Neil Cox's side in front before Manny Onariase doubled the lead shortly before the break.

Carlisle's late comeback left them 13th in League Two after eight games.

United, with Gibson called up for his first start and Zach Clough recalled to the XI, began and ended the first half dreadfully, as they were undone by two corners.

They went behind when a Harry Wood delivery saw Maguns Norman deny George Taft, only for Onariase to send the ball back in and Jarvis finish from close range.

It was the worst possible start and Carlisle were often on the back foot against their struggling visitors.

Rod McDonald almost donated a chance to the Iron with a poor pass while Myles Hippolyte saw a shot blocked.

Joe Riley had an effort blocked for the Blues but United almost shot themselves in the foot again when Norman sent a pass straight to Jarvis, whose chip over the stranded keeper went just over the bar.

Carlisle's passing and attacking player was bereft of quality, only Gibson showing any real purpose on the right on his full debut.

He had an effort from 30 yards saved while Jack Armer came close to a leveller when he headed a Riley cross wide.

But United's play was otherwise poor and Beech responded with a 40th-minute change, hooking Riley and sending on Dickenson, a move that saw Jon Mellish moved back from the left into the middle.

Yet Carlisle then conceded again moments before the break, when a Mason O'Malley corner found Scunthorpe defender Onariase free, and he sent an unmarked header into the net.

After the break, Wood saw a 25-yard shot saved by Norman before ref Rebecca Welch waved away Clough's penalty appeal for Carlisle as he jinked into the box.

United increased the pressure but remained short of chances, with Beech sending on Brad Young for Tristan Abrahams before the hour mark, and later replacing Clough with Lewis Alessandra.

Clear opportunities remained scarce, Kelvin Mellor firing over the bar from the edge of the box before McDonald headed a Callum Guy free-kick narrowly wide in the 78th minute.

Dickenson saw a low shot from the left saved by Rory Watson as United looked for a way back against a visiting side keen to waste time.

And they finally earned a lifeline when Gibson pounced on the right and drilled a good low shot across Watson for his first goal in a United shirt.

Scunthorpe boss Cox responded with a double change as his side tried to see off a late Blues fightback.

Dickenson then saw a shot deflected narrowly wide for United, who had defender McDonald up front for the closing stages.

And Carlisle's desperate late pressure finally told when Mellor linked with Gibson and Dickenson rose to head the deep cross across Watson.

Both managers were booked in the scenes that followed United's last-gasp equaliser, Beech yellow-carded for celebrating in the fourth official's face.

Carlisle: Norman, Mellor, Armer, McDonald, Whelan, Guy, Riley (Dickenson 40), Mellish, Gibson, Clough (Alessandra 68), Abrahams (Young 59). Not used: Jensen, Charters, Feeney, Mampala.

Goals: Gibson 82, Dickenson 90

Booked: Beech

Scunthorpe: Watson, Millen (Rowe 83), O'Malley, Taft, Onariase, Beestin, Hippolyte, Wood (Pugh 68), Scrimshaw, Jarvis (O’Neill 83), Perry. Not used: Balme, Green, Hallam, Hackney.

Goals: Jarvis 3, Onariase 44

Booked: Perry, Rowe, Cox

Ref: Rebecca Welch.

Crowd: 4,499 (176 Scunthorpe fans)