Report from the Tuesday evening away game
Carlisle were made to work hard for their point at Doncaster on Tuesday evening but they were more than a match for their hosts on a night when both sides will feel they could have taken more.United created an excellent opening in the second minute when Tom Miller drilled a ball long forward from deep inside his own half. Marosi raced off his line but Shaun Miller was there first as he followed the flight. He went for the lob but he got too much on it and it went over the bar.
Rovers used it well from the kick out and a run down the right from Coppinger earned a corner as he tried to find Williams. The delivery was perfect for Blair but Gillespie did well to get across to make a one-handed save.
Carlisle caused more problems when Jones went in for a strong tackle in midfield. Adams was on it like a flash and he put Shaun Miller clean through with an inch-perfect pass. Marosi stayed big and his touch was enough to take the goal-bound shot wide of the upright.
Both sides were going for it and a cross from Evina was just in front of Marquis as he tried to get a touch. The danger was cleared but loose play as Carlisle tried to pass their way out gave Williams half a sight until Gillesphey recovered to make an important block.
United looked up for it and they deservedly took the lead when a huge free kick from Macaulay Gillesphey was only partially cleared. Nicky Adams wrapped his boot round it on the edge of the area and Shaun Miller made it two league goals in two games as he stuck a boot out to send it into the bottom corner.
The lead lasted just over two minutes however as Carlisle lost their bearings in midfield. Houghton got to it and he released Tommy Rowe with a neat through ball. It was an excellent finish as he shot crisply into the back of the net.
The game ebbed and flowed but it was a misplaced pass from Jones which sparked another home attack with Carlisle light at the back. Coppinger didn't need to be asked twice and he wasn't too far away with a 22-yard curler.
Carlisle used the deep and high free kick approach to good effect again when Gillesphey looked for Raynes in a dangerous area. It fell to Adams and Marosi was mightily relieved to see his blast shave the outside of his post.
Coppinger replied in kind at the other end when he spun and clipped it from a tight angle, but it was United who should have retaken the lead on 35 minutes when Gillesphey once again found Raynes on the edge of the area. Tom Miller miscued an instinctive volley, which Marosi somehow spilled, and Shaun Miller was annoyed with himself as he blazed the loose ball over from just six-yards out.
United had a scare of their own when a short corner routine from a Marquis shot was sent into the box by Calder. Joyce spotted it late and had his keeper to thank as his attempted clearance came off his shin and headed for the net, until the gloves got in the way.
Rovers were close again when Williams bundled his way through two challenges to go up against Gillespie. The big stopper saved the first shot but Williams recovered to swipe from the floor. It looked to be going in until it hit the underside of the bar and skipped away to safety.
The home side claimed a lead to take into the half time break, though, when Marquis checked his run and stayed alert. A deflection ran into his path and he did the rest with a thundering shot from 22-yards.
Disaster almost struck for United with just four minutes on the second half clock when Tom Miller was judged to have pulled Houghton to the floor as the pair challenged for a cross from Blair. Rowe stepped up to take it but he could only find the post.
Ibehre and Wyke came into the fold at the expense of Devitt and Shaun Miller early in the second half piece but it was defender Michael Raynes who almost squared things up when he jumped high to meet an Adams free kick. He was set to celebrate until Marosi got down to fingertip it wide.
A cross from Grainger had to be headed clear as United tried to turn up the heat, but Grainger had to clean up at the other end when Calder threatened to get on to a looped ball from Evina.
Carlisle kept pressing and Raynes felt he should have done better when Lambe dropped a shoulder and delivered. The defender was up early but he couldn't keep his headed effort down.
It was good stuff from the visitors and Lambe turned his man when he dropped a shoulder out wide. His pass found Ibehre but Markosi scrambled to make another good save. The corner fell to Joyce 24-yards out but his volley was blocked with plenty of blue shirts camped forward.
And the Cumbrians should have been back on terms when Raynes arrived late for another excellent cross. He took his eye off it at the vital moment and the chance was gone.
But the equaliser they had worked so hard for came on 79 minutes when Grainger and Adams combined to open a route on the flank. The cross from the latter was met by an emphatic header from Jabo Ibehre - the 100th league goal of his career.
As the game had started, both sides pushed for the win, with Lambe and Grainger going close for United as Mandeville and Middleton provided tests for the visiting defence in the closing stages.
But a seventh draw in ten unbeaten league games was the most welcome of the recent shared results following an excellent away day performance.
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Goals
Doncaster Rovers - Rowe (18), Marquis (45)
Carlisle United - S Miller (15), Ibehre (79)
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Bookings
Doncaster Rovers - Marquis (90)
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Teams
Doncaster Rovers - Marosi, Blair, Wright, Butler, Evina, Houghton, Calder (Richardson 74), Rowe, Coppinger (Middleton 77), Marquis, Williams (Mandeville 85). Subs - Etheridge, Baudry, Beestin, Garratt.
Carlisle United - Gillespie, T Miller (Lambe 68), Raynes, Gillesphey, Grainger, Joyce, Jones, Devitt (Ibehre 51), Kennedy, Adams, S Miller (Wyke 51). Subs - Crocombe, Ellis, Brisley, McKee.
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Referee - Mr Ross Joyce
Attendance - 4,773 (439 away fans)
