Carlisle United 2 Northampton Town 1: A Jordan Gibson penalty deep into injury-time earned the Blues a dramatic last-gasp victory in front of a big Brunton Park crowd.

The midfielder kept his nerve and scored from the spot to trigger huge celebrations among the 8,514 attendance.

It earned the Cumbrians a fourth straight win as the remarkable revival under Paul Simpson continued against League Two's second-placed side.

Sub Tobi-Sho-Silva had fired United ahead moments after coming on in the 75th minute before Paul Lewis headed the Cobblers level four minutes later.

Carlisle then won it in hugely dramatic scenes after visiting defender Fraser Horsfall handled a Callum Guy free-kick, and Gibson slotted home the penalty.

It kept up Simpson's 100 per cent start and sent United nine point above the relegation zone in 17th place.

This was the most remarkable win yet since the Cumbrian returned as manager - and the second successive weekend they've snatched the points in added time - with the biggest home crowd of the season at United's ground to watch it unfold, thanks to a major ticket promotion.

Simpson named the same XI for the fourth consecutive game.

But there was a boost on the bench with fit-again duo Rod McDonald and Brennan Dickenson both in the squad for the first time in more than a month.

They replaced Lewis Alessandra and Mitch Roberts among the Cumbrians' subs.

Northampton were also unchanged, with midfielder Jack Sowerby facing his former loan club.

The visitors forced the first chance, and Louis Appere could easily have given the Cobblers a second-minute lead, but fired over the bar from a good position in the United box.

Carlisle then came close to an opener, when Omari Patrick did well on the right, his cross breaking via Jack Armer to Kristian Dennis, whose goalbound drive was excellently saved by keeper Liam Roberts.

Jon Mellish, with a positive run from defence, combined with Jamie Devitt to set up Dennis for a shot Roberts kept out.

From there, Jon Brady's visitors steadily carved out the better chances. Mellish denied Lewis with a vital block, and Morgan Feeney then intervened to thwart the same man.

Sam Hoskins skimmed an attempt a few inches wide following a free-kick, and Aaron McGowan cleared the bar from a good position after a further Northampton foray, with Carlisle's defenders on hand to clear their lines on a number of occasions.

United's chances had dwindled despite their competitive performance, a 25-yarder from Gibson a rare attempt on Roberts' goal as things went on.

And Northampton missed another chance shortly before half-time, Horsfall volleying over from eight yards out after some edgy moments from the Blues and two Cobblers corners.

Northampton made a change at the break, Danny Rose replacing the yellow-carded Shaun McWilliams, before the game was briefly held up when a young fan broke from the Warwick Road End and ran on the pich, gesturing to the away fans before running back, evading a steward and jumping back into the home end.

There were few clear-cut chances as the second half went on, the impressive Dynel Simeu and Feeney making some strong defensive interventions for Carlisle.

A second pitch invader then held things up, as Simpson sent on Dickenson for Devitt and Patrick saw a long-range attempt go wide of the left-hand post.

Dickenson tested Roberts with a piledriver on 73 minutes, before United's boss sent on Sho-Silva for Dennis.

And the change paid immediate dividends as Dickenson's skilful assist sent the sub through on goal, and Sho-Silva made no mistake with a nerveless low finish.

It triggered big celebrations among the big home crowd.

At the other end, Feeney and Dickenson combined to see off a Rose chance - but Northampton then quickly equalised when Lewis found space at close range to head a right-wing cross past Howard.

It was the midfielder's fourth of the season against Carlisle, Lewis having hit a hat-trick in October's meeting.

It kept the contest very much in the balance, Northampton further testing Carlisle with crosses and long throws, and Rose shooting wide after sub Bez Lubala had hooked the ball across the box.

Then came the dramtic finale, as Northampton's Ali Koiki handled the ball, feeling he should have been awarded a free-kick after a tussle with Sho-Silva.

Instead, ref James Bell penalised him for handball and then, from the right, Guy's cross saw Cobblers captain Horsfall facing his own goal and his interception was ruled to be handball by Bell.

Brunton Park held its breath as Gibson lined up the penalty - and the ground then erupted when he sent it low and to the left past Roberts, with similar scenes following at the full-time whistle. 

United: Howard, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Riley, Armer, Guy, Devitt (Dickenson 61), Gibson, Patrick, Dennis (Sho-Silva 73). Not used: Norman, Devine, McDonald, Whelan, Omotoye.

Goals: Sho-Silva 75, Gibson 90pen.

Booked: Riley.

Northampton: Roberts, Koiki, McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Lewis, Pinnock, Sowerby, McWilliams (Rose 46), Hoskins (Ashley-Seal 85), Appere (Lubala 74). Not used: Maxted, Harriman, Lubala, Zimba.

Goal: Lewis 79.

Booked: McWilliams, Pinnock.

Ref: James Bell.

Crowd: 8,514 (380 Northampton fans).