Derek Holmes moved to the bench for this important pre-Christmas fixture against a Wrexham side who were looking to mount their own challenge at the top of League Two.

Brendan McGill kept his starting berth on the right of midfield whilst Hawley and Bridges, who was on a two goals in two games scoring run, made up the striking partnership.

Zigor Aranalde made a return, coming in to midfield, whilst Peter Murphy kept his place in defence.

Chris Billy made his 100th League appearance for the club, anchoring the centre of midfield in his usual role, despite worries over a cut on his leg picked up in his last outing.

Both Dennis Lawrence and Lee McEvilly overcame fitness tests to make it in to the visiting starting eleven.

The early sparring saw Aranalde battling for possession in the Dragons box following a high ball from Lumsdon, whilst a Ferguson free kick in the 7th minute was well marshalled by Gray and Westwood at the United end.

A nice passing move in the 9th minute brought a throw in that released Murphy down the left. His low, front post cross was met strongly by Bridges, but the volley had too much on it, flying well wide of the goal.

A great ball forward in the 12th minute came to Hawley on the edge of the box and he laid it out wide, meeting the overlap by McGill. On the stretch, the tricky winger was unlucky to see his shot blocked, popping up in to the grateful hands of Ingham.

Carlisle were almost undone by a freak goal in the 14th minute when a powerful drive from just outside the area cannoned up in to the air. Flat-footed, Westwood could only scurry back and watch in horror as it rebounded back off the inside of the post and in to the 6 yard area. Arnison was alert and on hand to crash it away for a corner.

Another superb move in the 19th minute saw Arnison, McGill and Bridges combine before the latter swept a high delivery in to the box. Bayliss had to stick a leg out, to stop Hawley from getting there, and he was inches away from conceding an own goal as the ball flew off his shin and beyond the post.

A Murphy free kick was poorly cleared in the next attack, and it dropped nicely for Aranalde to volley from 22 yards. He connected sweetly, looping a left foot effort past both the keeper and the nets.

Carlisle came even closer on 22 minutes, in what was a good spell for the home side, when another free kick, this time taken by Lumsdon, scuffed up off Bridges. McGill headed it back in to the mix and Hawley tried to divert it onwards, getting slightly too much on it as it went over the bar.

The best chance of the half thus far came in the 30th minute when a delightful flick from Bridges, on the end of 4 probing passes, sent Hawley one on one with Ingham. The keeper stood tall, narrowing the angles, and was able to batter the ball away.

United continued to call the shots and Arnison was rewarded for his hard work when he robbed Smith down by the corner flag, finding McGill in space. A quick cross was trapped well by Hawley and he spun and shot in one move, bringing a diving save from Ingham, low to his left.

Danny Livesey will wonder how he didn't score shortly after when Aranalde curled a teasing cross in from the left. The United defender rose, 6 yards from goal, and powered a header straight at Ingham. The big stopper didn't know much about it, but he did enough to parry it away from his goal.

All the first half lacked was a goal for Carlisle as they continued to rack up the shots on and off target goal ratio. A 19 yard free kick from Lumsdon was another effort that shaved the woodwork, going for a corner off the thigh of McEvilly.

Forays forward were few and far between for the Red Dragons but Jon Walters had a 23 yarder that fell nicely for Westwood as half time approached. A dominant, if unproductive, first 45 minutes ended with the Carlisle fans wondering how their team wasn't in the lead.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Wrexham

Denis Smith went for two changes immediately after the break, seeking to get some kind of foothold in a game that had seen his team largely have to defend.

On 47 minutes a very strange decision from the official handed Wrexham a penalty when Lumsdon slid in for a challenge in the area, and clearly won the ball. However, seeing the player in red hit the dirt, the Ref pointed to the spot and, after booking Murphy and Lumsdon, stood back to watch Crowell make no mistake from the spot.

It was disappointing and, with the Blues pushing forward in search of an equaliser, it left a hole at the back for Walters to exploit. He went one on one with Westwood, but the shot was blasted straight at the Carlisle keeper when it came.

Brendan McGill found space on the hour when a long ball from Aranalde evaded the last defender, but the recovery was quick and the first shot was blocked. Ingham was able to smother the second as it was rattled along the ground from McGill's weaker foot.

Gray was called in to action as Wrexham went for a second when Smith fizzed a low cross in to the area. The big Carlisle captain slid in and cleared as Walters lurked.

In the 70th minute Bridges saw Holmes on the break but put just an ounce or two too much on the pass that took him away from goal.  He beat his man, steadied himself, but had his 10 yard shot spooned away at the front post.

In an afternoon that was turning out to be very bizarre, Carlisle equalised from a Lumsdon corner that had Ingham stranded. Kev Gray arrived at the back post, smashed a header against the bar, and then appeared to get enough on the rebound to bundle it over the line to claim the equaliser. There is, however, a distinct possibility that some red shirts were involved along the way.

Mark Jones came close on 77 minutes with a snapshot on the volley at the back post but the arrival of Derek Holmes as a substitute had given the Dragons back line something else to think about. It was he who won a header in the 79th minute that Wrexham decided to watch, allowing Hawley the time to try to bring it under control. Mike Ingham came rushing out and clattered in to the striker, leaving the Ref no choice but to point at the spot.

Chris Lumsdon stepped forward to take what was United's first spot kick of the season, sending Ingham the wrong way and giving the Cumbrians the lead.

In what had been an incident strewn second half United were able to see the remainder of the game out in relative comfort as Wrexham threw Lawrence forward in a last ditch bid to get something from the game.

This was a real battle for Carlisle who had to come back from behind following a very strange decision early in the second half. The belief that is running through the side saw them really dig deep and they fully deserved the 3 points that they took today. True grit and determination shown in a game that needed exactly that - it's another big well done for yet another gutsy display.

Goals

United - Gray (71), Lumsdon (81 pen)

Wrexham - Crowell (49 pen)

Bookings

United - Arnison (41), Lumsdon (47), Murphy (47)

Wrexham - Roche (42) Bayliss (87)

Teams

United - Westwood, Arnison, Gray, Livesey, Aranalde (Holmes 69), McGill, Billy, Lumsdon, Murphy, Hawley, Holmes. Not Used - Williams, Grand, A Murray, Nade.

Wrexham - Ingham, Smith (Holt 45), Bayliss, Lawrence, Danny Williams, Walters, Ferguson, McEvilly (Mike Williams 45), Roche, Crowell (Foy 86), Mark Jones. Not Used - Michael Jones, Bennett.

Travelling fans - 214