Carlisle United 2 Stockport County 2: Carlisle United were denied victory by Stockport after a dramatic duel in the promotion race.

Owen Moxon appeared to have given the Blues a memorable and much-needed victory when he scored his first Brunton Park goal on 83 minutes.

But County quickly levelled through sub Connor Evans, leaving Carlisle still fifth but now four points outside the top three.

Fourth-placed Stockport had led at half-time through Myles Hippolyte before Jon Mellish levelled in front of a 7,198 crowd.

Carlisle, second-best in the first half, threw everything at their second-half efforts and their vibrant showing in that spell can give them hope for their remaining three games.

Their lack of wins is, though, costing them ground in the automatic race to reach League One.

Simpson made three changes to his side as United looked to return to the goal trail.

JK Gordon got another chance in attack at the expense of Omari Patrick, while Joel Senior came back in at right-wing back, as Jordan Gibson moved infield at the expense of Alfie McCalmont.

In defence, Corey Whelan made his first start since December in place of Ben Barclay, who was unable to face his parent club.

Visitors County also made three changes, ex-United frontman Paddy Madden recalled along with Callum Camps and Chris Hussey, as Kyle Wootton and Ryan Rydel missed out and Neill Byrne dropped to the bench.

Former Blues loan man Jack Stretton also started for the visitors, who were backed by a big travelling support, some of whom had travelled on coaches paid for by Challinor's squad.

United fashioned the first chance, Senior meeting a Jack Armer cross and sending it over the bar, before Stockport settled.

A period of control from the visitors saw Stretton hook one chance into the Warwick Road End while, from another corner, Madden headed over the bar.

Carlisle forced their way back into things and enjoyed a brighter spell, with Armer almost scoring with a 30-yard piledriver which keeper Ben Hinchcliffe tipped over.

More set-pieces from the hosts tested Stockport but Carlisle went close again when Kristian Dennis drew a save from Hinchcliffe and Gibson somehow failed to find the net as he attacked the rebound.

Stockport punished United's wastefulness and on 31 minutes hit back to take the lead. First, Kyle Knoyle forced his way past Mellish on the right and Stretton mis-hit his attempted finish - but the visitors recovered possession and fed the ball in for Hippolyte to hook a shot past Tomas Holy.

That deflated Carlisle and saw the visitors regain control of proceedings without creating anything else of significance - while United struggled to make anything happen bar a series of innocuous set-pieces, their frontmen struggling to get into the game and the automatic promotion places looking increasingly distant at half-time.

Yet a tactical change from Simpson at the break saw the Blues in better shape after the break, Mellish moving into midfield as Carlisle switched to a back four.

That saw them start the half in more urgent mood - and on 54 minutes got back into the game, when Moxon's corner found Mellish and he turned the ball home inside the six-yard box.

Brunton Park roared United back to goalscoring form and the Blues continued on the front foot, Moxon testing Hinchcliffe from 25 yards.

Stockport recovered their composure from the hour mark with Ryan Croasdale and Callum Camps going close and sub Isaac Olaofe adding new pace to their attack in place of Stretton.

Simpson responded by sending on Ryan Edmondson and Patrick for Dennis and Gibson, and Patrick soon had a chance on the break when, fed by Moxon, he was denied by a County defender.

Holy's superb fingertip save denied Olaofe - and Moxon then raised the roof when he ran onto Edmondson's pass and found the top corner for his first goal at his home-city ground.

But Evans, off the bench for County, met a cross two minutes later to make it 2-2 as Holy stayed on his line and Carlisle failed to defend the delivery from the Stockport left.

Both sides had late opportunities but had to settle for a share of the spoils.

United: Holy, Whelan, Huntington, Mellish, Senior, Armer, Guy, Moxon, Gibson (Patrick 72), Gordon, Dennis (Edmondson 72). Not used: Kelly, Devitt, Robinson, McCalmont, Garner.

Goals: Mellish 54, Moxon 83.

Booked: Whelan, Senior, Mellish.

Stockport: Hinchcliffe, Knoyle, Hussey, Horsfall, Croasdale (Evans 83), Wright (Johnson 83), Hippolyte, Camps, Collar, Madden, Stretton (Olaofe 69). Not used: Jaros, Byrne, Davenport, Rowe.

Goals: Hippolyte 31, Evans 85.

Booked: Wright.

Ref: Thomas Parsons.

Crowd: 7,298 (1,052 Stockport fans).