United's second away trip in a fortnight was the short journey to the Globe Arena to face 'local' rivals Morecambe.
They extended their good run to just one defeat in eleven games, but it ultimately became a frustrating afternoon as they failed to turn territorial dominance into three points.
The near 2,000-strong travelling Blue Army created a fantastic atmosphere but a tense opening ten minutes on the field brought just a wayward shot from Brown, which sailed over the bar, with little else to report.
Brown was involved again on 14 minutes when he was unceremoniously chopped to the floor by Conlan as he tried to run into the box. Former-Morecambe man Jamie Devitt took charge of the free kick and he left Roche with no chance as he drilled a wonderful thunderbolt into the back of the net via the underside of the bar.
A foul on Stockton followed, this time on the left hand side of the area, and it was Devitt once more who tried his luck. The ball flew through the wall and Roche had to parry as he spotted it late. Liddle sent it back into the mix and Stockton was disappointed as he headed it wide.
Morecambe looked to respond and McGurk pounced on an error in midfield and strode forward into space. His shot was stopped by Bonham on the dive but Thompson got his footwork wrong as he sent the loose ball behind to safety.
Carlisle continued to look the more dangerous and determined work from Jones allowed him to feed Grainger into a crossing position. His curler picked out Brown who, in turn, spotted Bennett in space. A header from the striker looked to be going in until the stopper somehow got his hand to it.
The Shrimps upped the pace of their approach play and Grainger had to block from Thompson when he went for it from a half-cleared corner. But the Cumbrians could do nothing when a delivery from the right wing from McGowan found Lang completely unmarked. He guided his header into the corner of the net.
The hosts came again with some neat play on the flanks and it opened up for Rose as he stepped inside with the ball at his feet. His shot was crisp but it was always too high. Deliveries came from both wings for the hosts through what was a good spell, but chances became few and far between ahead of the break as the sides started to cancel each other out.
Carlisle showed first after the break when Joyce picked out Stockton with a measured pass. The forward was forced wide and Roche was well placed to make the save when the low shot came in.
Stockton wasn't too far away when he headed a corner from Devitt just pst the post, and McGurk had the home crowd on its feet when he bent a run which took him over 40-yards of grass to get into the United box. He lost his footing as he shaped to shoot and Bonham gathered it up.
Carlisle started to dictate the pace and Roche was in action once more when Brown was played into a dangerous area by Joyce. The defender put his laces through the shot but the keeper got across to make his save.
A touch from Nadesan sent Devitt on a run from deep as United created the better of the second half chances, but his shot hit Winnard and rebounded clear of the box.
The sides exchanged periods of forward movement, without quite managing to turn the screw, as the game once more moved into midfield.
Carlisle were denied what looked to be a clear penalty when Nadesan was pulled to the floor by Roche as the pair challenged for a high ball, which bounced inside the box. The officials waved play on despite the vociferous and prolonged shouts from the visiting contingent.
Another good visiting chance went begging when Ellis put a half clearance back into the mix. Joyce helped it on its way but the shot from Jones ballooned high and very wide.
The pressure was almost exclusively United's heading into the final ten minutes but the frustration was summed up when Jones had two shots in the space of 60 seconds. His first screwed away via a deflection off one of his own players and the second bobbled agonisingly wide with Roche well beaten.
Bonham had to save from Lang when he broke through to try to nick the points in time added on, and Oliver was wasteful when he sent a free header high over the bar from close range just before the final whistle blew.
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Goals
Morecambe - Devitt (14)
Carlisle United - Lang (29)
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Bookings
Morecambe - Conlan (13)
Carlisle United - Devitt (69)
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Teams
Morecambe - Roche, McGowan, Old, Winnard, Thompson (Oliver 76), Fleming, Conlan, Lavelle, Rose, McGurk (Wildig 62), Lang (Ellison 90). Subs - Nizic, Kenyon, Campbell, Wylde.
Carlisle United - Bonham, Grainger, Liddle, Parkes (Joyce 46), Jones, Devitt, Bennett, Ellis, Brown (Campbell-Ryce 70), Stockton (Nadesan 59), Hill. Subs - Gray, O'Sullivan, Lambe, Twardek.
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Referee - John Brooks
Attendance - 3,319 (1,851 away fans)
