Carlisle United 1 Colchester United 1 : In a season badly in need of impetus, little was provided during this 1-1 draw with Colchester. Carlisle United started the day 10 points adrift of the League Two play-offs and 13th – and ended it in the same position.

Things could have been worse for Keith Curle’s Blues, who trailed at half-time after Courtney Senior had broken the deadlock for the visitors.

A lacklustre start in the second half led to frustration from some in the home contingent, but United did manage to hit back and earn a point with Jamie Devitt getting an equaliser with a superb free-kick.

The U’s began the game five points ahead of Carlisle in the league table, and they started well as they tried to test the Cumbrians’ new-look backline, which was without captain Danny Grainger. That meant Gary Liddle took the captain’s armband as he partnered Clint Hill in central defence, while Tom Parkes deputised for Grainger at left-back.

It was Carlisle who created the first clear-cut chances. Kelvin Etuhu flashed an effort inches wide of Colchester keeper Sam Walker’s right-hand post on the sixth minute, before Devitt bent a right-footed shot on to the roof of the net from a similar position soon after.

Attacker Senior had the U’s’ first real opening on 14 minutes, fizzing his strike from the edge of the box over Jack Bonham’s goal.

Four minutes later, United midfielder Jamal Campbell-Ryce – on his home debut against one of his old clubs – whipped in a dangerous cross for fellow January signing Cole Stockton. But the former Tranmere Rovers frontman was denied his first Brunton Park goal by Walker who made a fine save from point-blank range.

Mike Jones then became the latest Carlisle player to test Walker from long-range on the 24th minute. The holding midfielder unleashed a fierce drive, which was met by a strong hand from Colchester’s former Chelsea youngster Walker.

A minute later at the other end, a Mikael Mandron effort from the edge of the area flashed wide.

Just after the half-hour mark, former Rangers, QPR and Crystal Palace defender Hill had to be alert to hook a menacing Drey Wright delivery over his own crossbar.

Then Etuhu, who replaced Luke Joyce in one of two changes from United’s team that lost 4-3 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, again let fly from distance a minute later, once again forcing U’s stopper Walker into action.

United had looked the more threatening of the two teams in the first period, albeit with shots that were largely being taken from long-range. But, shortly before the interval, Colchester took the lead.

John McGreal’s men successfully cleared a Carlisle corner and then counter-attacked quickly. Brentford loanee Bonham did well to deny Kurtis Guthrie, although could do little as Senior followed up and slotted into the empty net.

Five minutes after the restart, Colchester created the first opportunity of the second period. A clever back-heel from Ryan Jackson presented Senior with space inside United’s penalty box, but his effort was straight at Bonham who gathered comfortably.

The Blues appeared to be struggling to find any sort of rhythm for the first 20 minutes of the second half, which led to more and more frustrated groans from the home fans in the 4,006-strong crowd.

Manager Curle did eventually make a much-needed switch with 66 minutes on the clock, with Reggie Lambe entering the fray as United looked to up the tempo.

And the substitution had an almost immediate impact. The Bermudian played through Millwall loan attacker Kris Twardek who was fouled around 20 yards from goal. Devitt took the free-kick and struck Walker’s crossbar.

With both sides now making changes, Carlisle also introduced Richie Bennett and John O’Sullivan to the fray.

The Blues then levelled 12 minutes from time when midfielder Devitt, who scored the only goal of the match when the sides met at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in October, curled right-footed into the top corner of Walker’s net. That was the in-form Irishman’s third goal in as many games.

Sammie Szmodics, Colchester’s top scorer this season, also entered the action in the latter stages and he almost regained the lead for his side on the 83rd minute. He delivered a dangerous cross-cum-shot, which was diverted to safety via a crucial touch from Bonham.

Fellow U’s substitute Liam Mandeville then twice went close, firstly with a cross which was stood up to the back post and cleared off the line by Carlisle loan defender James Brown. Then, the 20-year-old struck the post on the 86th minute.

The Doncaster loanee was again involved in the final stages of normal time as he curled inches wide. But neither team could find, what would have proved to have been, a crucial third goal in the match as it ended in a stalemate.

Both sides will return to league action tomorrow.

Carlisle will travel to Curle’s former club Notts County, with he Blues boss understood to have begun preparing for his team’s trip to Meadow Lane within moments of Saturday’s full-time whistle, leading to no post-match interviews. Meanwhile, Colchester will host Coventry City.

Carlisle: Bonham, Liddle (c), Parkes, Jones (Lambe 66), Devitt, Campbell-Ryce (O'Sullivan 78), Brown, Etuhu, Stockton (Bennett 71), Twardek, Hill.

Goal: Devitt (78)

Colchester: Walker, Eastman, Prosser (c), Kent, Jackson, Comley, Stevenson (Murray 80), Wright, Senior (Szmodics 71), Mandron and Guthrie (Mandeville 55)

Goal: Senior (44)

Ref: Ross Joyce

Crowd: 4,006