Newport County 2 Carlisle United 2: Some goals, at last; a bit of spirit, also at last - and, most hearteningly of all, just a dash of fresh thinking. Yes, it's one point, and yes, the Blues are still uncomfortably positioned in second bottom.

But they were entitled to leave this drenched corner of south Wales with a rare grain of hope. They scored, for one thing, and after conceding twice, they came back, instead of crumbling. With the chances they created, they might easily have got more.

These are small but genuine dividends after the barren month just passed. So let us take them, put them in the safe, lock them tightly away and spend the next few days without the same crushing sense of inevitability that's followed United around since mid-September.

This sodden night ended the six-hour wait for a goal with remarkable speed - Joe Riley bustling in to score after 38 seconds - and while Carlisle then brought some of their flaws back to the party, particularly in defence, they showed some character and ideas both on and off the pitch to take something from the volatile contest.

Gavin Skelton, the caretaker manager, cannot be accused of leaving all the failed things as they were after the Chris Beech era died its death. He promoted Taylor Charters for his first league start since March, added Riley back to the mix and, when United needed a second-half shift, acted with a double substitution that altered the game's momentum.

Jack Armer, dropped for the first time this season, came on in a move that allowed starting left-back Brennan Dickenson to push forward. Dickenson and another sub, Brad Young, were directly involved in the move that led to United's equalising penalty, after Dom Telford had overturned Riley's instant opener.

These are good things; proactive tinkerings that worked. Let us not cast Skelton as a Merlin of the dugout after a couple of tweaks (and for getting a much-needed productive performance from penalty scorer Zach Clough) but let us give him his due after these 90 minutes, as United took something from a fixture that normally sends them home with zilch. 

We even dared to entertain the thought of that rarest of beasts - a victory - when Newport’s Ryan Haynes joined Ed Upson in an early red-card departure. Carlisle couldn’t find a third goal in the closing stages and still clearly require more devil in finishing and much better set-piece work than they demonstrated here.

But in the recent dark context, we will take what they got and hope it offers an uplift for their next outing.

As Skelton holds the fort, the search for a new manager continues. Newport, meanwhile, announced their own new one before kick-off, the former Cardiff coach James Rowberry, presumably hoping for a galvanising effect as Wayne Hatswell took his final game in interim charge.

Yet it was United who received the sudden filip of a goal. No, this was not a mirage. Carlisle had scored! We were rubbing our eyes not just at the sweet sight of a United player finding the net, but the way it happened: a swift, progressive right-sided attack involving Riley and Clough which ended with the former speeding onto the latter’s cultured pass and smacking the ball inside Joe Day’s near post. 

It was a marvellous way to end the drought, and left the Blues only with 89 minutes and 22 seconds to see out. Ha ha.

Newport came back hungrily, Telford’s movement causing United’s defence trouble, rifling one Matty Dolan corner just over the bar before Robbie Willmott went close. Carlisle held their shape and, on occasion, countered with some further useful football, Jordan Gibson denied by Day after another Riley drive and Clough dropping into promising pockets.

United’s attempts to retain a competitive edge brought a couple of yellow cards, then some over-commitment led to the leveller, as Morgan Feeney fouled high up the pitch, ref David Rock played an advantage, Haynes' cross evaded Rod McDonald and Telford met it with smart control and a swivelling finish. 

If you paused the footage here you’d be able to pinpoint the moment United’s precarious confidence sagged. They reverted to slow motion as Telford then sped in for a second, moving from right to centre without so much as a rumour of a challenge.

Hello darkness, my old friend. United now needed half-time a good 15 minutes before it came. By the time it arrived, they'd survived a deflected Oliver Cooper shot that hit the post and a chance for the persistent Courtney Baker-Richardson which died on a heavy touch.

United’s passing, at this stage, had regressed; their defending had become slow and reactive. Newport were sharper in thought and deed and we feared the predictable worst. This time, praise be, they found a way back.

It could not come via the corner-kick route - United's dead-ball work seriously needs some attention - but when Skelton made his switch, they rose, Gibson hitting the post from Dickenson's cross and Upson palming Young's shot away, the defender taking the long walk to the tunnel as Clough kept his spot-kick nerve.

For a few minutes after this we grew giddy at the thought United might actually, you know...win. No such luck. Clough wasted a great chance on the break, and after Baker-Richardson hit the bar for the hosts, the lively, dribbling Gibson tested Day.

It was pleasing in itself to see Carlisle on the front foot, even against a reduced opponent. Another opportunity was donated when Haynes fouled Gibson and was shown a second yellow. Newport down to nine, and young Sam Fishburn on for his Carlisle league debut after Day had superbly kept out a Clough curler, yet the ball spent much of the closing period out of play and the killer chance passed the Blues by.

The point, though, remained. A turning point? Far too early to say. A starting point? Let us pray so.