A boggy, heavy looking pitch greeted the teams for what was a vital game in the context of the run in, with Rovers looking to edge their way in to the Play Offs and with Carlisle eager to put to bed any lingering worries over allowing promotion to slip away.

An ankle injury picked up last weekend forced Danny Livesey on to the sidelines with Peter Murphy slotting in to the centre of the defence to take his place. Adam Murray came in to midfield, with Mark Rivers moving on to the bench.

It was a bright start from United with Aranalde taking the opportunity to launch one of his testing throws in to the box with less than a minute played. Adam Murray was able to lob the half clearance back in to the box and Peter Murphy went close with a 20 yard volley that dipped just over the bar as the second ball came out to him.

The Pirates responded with a quick break down the Carisle right when Igoe split the defence to find Agogo. He played it on to Walker but Westwood was able to see it early and gather the cross. Back with the red shirts and Hawley raced in to the box before beating Hinton by the goal line. It opened up for a shot but he dragged it wide of the target with his left boot when he could also have taken other options.

On 8 minutes Walker flicked a superb Agogo cross from deep on towards the bottom corner of Westwood's net, and it took two attempts for the United keeper to scoop it up as he had Rovers players racing in to sniff out any spillage.

Chris Lumsdon had a speculative 23 yarder in the 11th minute as Carlisle pushed forward again but Shearer was never troubled as it stayed high all the way. It was entertaining stuff and Bridges' eyes lit up when Shearer came racing from his line to head a long ball forward away. It fell to the Cumbrians in form striker just this side of the half way line but his first time volley lacked the power it needed to make it to the net.

Sammy Igoe placed a 19 yard effort inches wide in the 14th minute following an incisive run by Haldane that took his crossed ball to the edge of the area. It was the right idea from the player making his last loan appearance for the club but it spun the wrong way for the impressive wide man to make his mark.

Walker put a Disley cross a yard wide when he got far too much on a header as he found himself in space 8 yards out, and Hawley did the same at the other end when Aranalde popped a decent cross in to the area. It was a good attacking display from both teams and Westwood had to be at full stretch to tip another great ball in to his 6 yard box away from the head of the waiting strikers.

Westwood found Hawley with a huge kick from hands in the 23rd minute but the club's top scorer mis-hit it as he broke in to the box. That was immediately followed by another scuffed effort that Shearer was able to drop on to, this time from Murray as he raced through the midfield in to a good striking position 20 yards out.

The fast pace was maintained and Aranalde sent a testing high ball in that Murray was able to guide onwards to Lumsdon. He directed a volley towards goal but Shearer was never troubled, picking it up low to his left.

The 27th minute saw a bit of pinball in the Carlisle box as a surging Haldane run pulled the defence out of position. Both Disley and Agogo had their volleys blocked as Gray and Murphy put themselves in the way. Not to be outdone, United went straight back on to the attack and almost scored themselves when Holmes tucked inside with a neat Hawley lay off. 19 yards out he forced a superb save from Shearer, low down to his left, as he very nearly found the corner of the net.

Paul Arnison pulled off a spectacular saving header in the 31st minute as Haldane scooped a zipping cross towards the back post. Walker and Disley were piling in but the full back wasn't about to be bossed, and he made sure the ball was his.

The visitors had a decent spell, starting in the 34th minute, after Lumsdon and Bridges worked in tandem to put Adam Murray in on goal. It was a simple task for Shearer to take it though as he was able to watch the shot all the way.

Craig Hinton then went in the book when he chopped Hawley down as he was about to break through on goal from a cheeky Bridges pass. Murphy stepped up to take the free kick and connected perfectly, 23 yards out, rattling the cross bar with Shearer well beaten.

Adam Murray was getting himself in the area alot and he bullied his way on to a chance in the 39th minute as everybody seemed to stand back and watch an awkwardly bouncing ball. Yet again he got the direction of the shot right, but it was without the power that was required to open the scoring.

Lewis Haldane tried his luck from a tight angle in the 40th minute as the balance of power shifted back towards Rovers once more and Agogo will be kicking himself after turning away from Murphy in their next foray forward, only to snatch at his drive and find the side netting as he had much more time than he obviously thought. Sammy Igoe was next to show that everyone had left their shooting boots at home for the first half when he raced across the front of the area after Agogo had trapped the ball expertly on the wing. The nippy wide player did everything but get the shot right in the move.

The half finished with a Murphy volley from a half cleared Lumsdon corner that Gray tried to turn goalwards, 12 yards out, on the spin. It was a difficult half chance and Shearer was relieved to see it fly over his bar.

Half Time: Rovers 0 - 0 United

The second 45 started in exactly the same way as the first had finished with attack the watchword for both teams.

James Hunt was the first to open himself up with a 25 yarder that took a wicked deflection off Gray. Fortunately the sting was taken out of it and Westwood made it his.

Aranalde won a corner from his 19 yard free kick that was initially blocked by the wall when Lumsdon was scythed down in a good position. The Pirates cleared it and raced away, and Haldane showed his strength and pace as he broke through 3 challenges and slid Walker in on the edge of the box. The Rovers forward went for accuracy but his chip was too high.

Rovers were looking hungry and Carruthers bent a low drive across the face of Westwood from the angle of the box that had the home fans on their feet in anticipation. Tails were up but the goal, when it came, was from nothing as Craig Disley was first on to a looping half clearance in the 55th minute. He went for the early volley and it seemed to take everyone by surprise, including Westwood, as it buried itself in the back of the net.

United could have levelled almost straight away when a flowing move saw Bridges collect the ball on the edge of the box. He spotted Lumsdon coming in support, and put it in to his path, but the midfielder was off balance and put his rocket over the bar.

The hour mark saw Westwood pull off a cracker of a save as Igoe wound his way past three before fizzing a bullet of a drive towards the roof of the net. The big keeper had to get up and put a full hand on it to prevent Rovers from extending their lead.

For the first time in the game it became more of a midfield tussle and Simpson reacted by bringing Hackney on for Holmes. Rovers were keeping things tight, and they were next to scare the nets when Walker did a comedy tumble in the box but followed it quickly with a swipe at the ball that saw it lift over Westwood but also the bar.

The 75th minute brought a goal that was the result of persistence as Hawley battled for a ball tight on the bye line. He held it up, fed it back to Adam Murray, and was able to stand back and watch as the midfielder crashed an arrowed cross towards Simon Hackney at the back post. The United substitute made no mistake from just 2 yards out as he put his header beyond Shearer.

The dangerous Lewis Haldane tried to restore the lead two minutes later when he went another of those mazy runs but he put his thunderbolt in to the midriff of Westwood as he came to the edge of the box. It was to be his last contribution as he went down with cramp from his afternoon's hard work.

Chris Lumsdon had to be on his guard in the 86th minute as an Arnison mistake in the middle of the park allowed a searching pass to dissect the remaining defenders. It was the United midfielder who got the vital last ditch tackle that prevented a one on one situation.

It was the last real action of a game that oozed incident from start to finish, with neither team happy with just the point. United really do not like getting beat at the moment and they didn't let their heads drop at all after the goal, which is the main reason why they came right back in to it. It could have gone either way and perhaps, on reflection, this was the fairest result from an afternoon of thoroughly enjoyable entertainment.

Goals

Rovers - Disley (55)

United - Hackney (75)

Bookings

Rovers - Hinton (35), Elliott (81)

United - Arnison (45)

Teams

Rovers - Shearer, Carruthers, Elliott, Hinton, Lescott, Igoe, Hunt, Disley, Haldane (Campbell 82), Walker, Agogo. Not Used - Edwards, Gibb, Lines, Horsell.

United - Westwood, Arnison, Gray, Murphy, Aranalde, Lumsdon, Billy, A Murray, Bridges (Grand 90), Holmes (Hackney 63), Hawley. Not Used - Williams, McGill, Rivers.

Travelling fans - 717