Manager Paul Simpson made one change to the starting eleven that faced Shrewsbury last weekend with Josh Kayode in for Luke Plange.

And Corey Whelan was drafted onto the bench at the expense of the injured Ben Barclay.

The temperature gauges were pushing way past 30 degrees as the players took to the pitch, with United in their fruit salad away kit for the first time.

There was an early scare for the away team when McNeill nicked possession from Guy just as he was about to pass it forward. Reid was released but a timely tackle stopped the shot.

Ashby-Hammond was casual with a touch from a back pass at the other end and Maguire was onto him in a flash. He managed to recover enough to scramble it away.

Dan Sweeney was direct in his intentions when he went on a run from the halfway linein what was a frantic start to the game. It opened up in front of him but he dragged his 20-yard effort well wide.

A throw from the left gave Reid the chance to turn quickly and he opted to shoot from distance. Andresson was never troubled.

Carlisle were undone on the quarter hour when a free kick from inside the centre circle was floated high by Butler. Piergianni got the slightest of flicks with his head and Jamie Reid did the rest with a close range finish as he clipped the bouncing ball over Andresson.

A similar set piece was met by Sweeney moments later, and Reid was accurate again with a first-time volley. Andresson had to get down smartly to push it away with both hands.

United were back on terms on 20 minutes when Armer sent the ball long down the left flank. Maguire made it his and he steadied himself as Ashby-Hammond hesitated, and the striker rattled it over the line despite a touch from the stopper.

The drinks break was followed by a slick move from the hosts as Reid pulled into space. He checked back and rolled it to McNeill, but Andresson was superb as he palmed the goal bound 17-yard rasper over the bar.

Another deep Butler free kick had Sweeney interested once again as he challenged inside the box, but Huntington and Lavelle were alert and the danger passed.

Things suddenly opened up for Mellish after tackles from both sides flew in ahead of the break. He had his head down as he powered towards the box but it wouldn't sit right and the interception was made.

The long clearance from that put Reid away, and he had just one thing in mind as he reached the 18-yard line. Andresson stayed big, put out a boot and completed another good save.

It was a bright start to the half from Boro with two back to back corners as they looked to apply pressure. United had to keep their concentration and the door shut as the attacks were recycled.

Carlisle went with a triple substitution just before the hour, with Ablade, Garner and McCalmont on for Maguire, Kayode and Gibson, but they couldn't make the most of a Moxon free kick as it eventually ended up in the keeper's hands.

Stevenage almost capitalised on a slip in midfield when Hemmings had space to conquer. Miscued volleys allowed the ball to be swept behind before Andresson was tested.

The home team thought they'd scored as Piergianni thundered a header from the Butler corner back towards the near post. It struck the underside of the bar, bounced clear, and was gratefully shepherded behind.

Another Butler - Piergianni corner kick combination forced a diving save from Andresson as a downward header threatened to go in, and the keeper had to punch the follow-up set piece off the line is it curled late.

United earned a corner when Garner battled well for a free kick from just inside the home half. It was met by a defensive header, and that sparked a pivotal attack.

Nick Freeman sent a long, high pass to Reid and he beat Guy before smashing it into the net, across the dive from Andresson.

Hemmings was wild with a volley from close range as a ball that was pinging around inside the area came his way, and Carlisle moved up in numbers, with Guy available. A decent cross went untouched as it fizzed across the face of goal.

Reid was denied a hat-trick after he'd bustled way into the box with the ball at his feet. Andresson got a foot to it to stifle the celebrations.

Ablade was tugged by Sweeney right on the 18-yard line as he broke clear, and the whipped delivery from Moxon from the resulting free kick was a whisker away. The away team claimed a corner, but the officials showed no interest.

There was a late fright when a Butler free kick from wide was spilled by Andresson. Piergianni had a poke, as Hemmings helped out, but the offside flag was up.

Garner and Plange linked up effectively on the right flank, and Moxon stepped across to provide an outlet. It came his way, but a firm hit was always too high.

Armer overlapped on the other side and his cross went behind for a corner. Moxon sent it in, and Garner was left to celebrate as his header looped over the line. Ashby-Hammond tried to claw it away but the assistant referee was on the button as he indicated that it was indeed a goal - goal number 150 of the striker's career.

Andresson was needed with a hand to save from a bullet of a Roberts header when he got on the end of a fizzed inswinger, and that was the last of the action as the teams took away a share of the spoils.

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Goals

Stevenage - Reid (15, 73)

Carlisle United - Maguire (20), Garner (90)

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Bookings

Stevenage - Raynor (21), McNeil (37), Roberts (73)

Carlisle United - Gibson (31), Guy (83)

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Teams

Stevenage - Ashby-Hammond, Butler, N Thompson, Piergianni, Sweeney, Freeman, Roberts, Burns, Reid (List 90), L Thompson (B Thompson 79), McNeill (Hemmings 46). Subs - Mitchell (gk), MacDonald, White, Neal.

Carlisle United - Andresson, Back, Lavelle, Huntington (c), Mellish, Armer, Gibson (McCalmont 56), Guy (Plange 84), Moxon, Maguire (Ablade 57), Kayode (Garner 57). Subs - Holy (gk), Whelan, Robinson.

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Match officials

Referee - Darren Drysdale
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Aylott
Assistant Referee 2 - Shaun Farrer
Fourth Official - Andy Bennett
Observer - Michael Brader
Coach - Michael Murphy

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Attendance - 4,228 (428)