Carlisle discovered the true value of the controversial 10-yard rule last night when Steve Soley's stunning free kick earned a dramatic last-minute draw in front of the delirious Brunton Park fans.
Three minutes into injury time, York's ex-Sunderland midfielder Steve Agnew handled 35 yards from goal, and team-mate Mark Sertori booted the ball away.
Referee Phil Richards booked Sertori for dissent and proceeded to push the City wall to within 25 yards of keeper Alan Fettis' goal. The Northern Ireland international, impressive throughout on his return from injury, could only watch in horror as Soley stepped up to drive the ball powerfully into the bottom corner.
If United manager Ian Atkins bemoaned his side's bad luck at Orient on Saturday, then the former Chester boss could have had no complaints had his team failed to pick up a point against a poor York.
For the bulk of a disappointing clash it was a case of different faces, same old story, as the home side struggled to raise their game.
A nervy start let Agnew get a grip on midfield but he should have done better with a wild 14th-minute effort. City were making the most of Carlisle's unconvincing sweeper system and Mark Birch did well to block David McNiven's strike.
With Atkins barking orders from the touchline, it was only a matter of time before Matthew Pitts dropped into a flat back four and the switch worked wonders. Tony Hemmings forced a corner with a driving run to the near post, then Pitts tested ex-Blackburn keeper Fettis with a speculative long-range strike. With genuine class at a premium it took a crude challenge by former United defender Darren Edmondson to bring the crowd to its feet.
The York full back pulled down Hemmings but it was his subsequent comment which earned the first yellow card of the game and roars of approval from the jeering home fans.
If Carlisle had gained the upper hand it was not to last, and the visitors should have led at half-time. In the 44th minute Graham Potter's left-foot volley was deflected wide and the subsequent corner fell into Agnew's path. His touch set up McNiven and the City striker turned neatly only to fire a fierce left-foot shot over the bar.
Carlisle had been warned, and on the hour Terry Dolan's side were in front. A long ball forward caused chaos in defence and Birch was penalised for pushing Kevin Hulme in the area. Peter Duffield stepped up to slot home the penalty, sending Luke Weaver the wrong way.
Soley, fresh from cracking Fettis's bar with a fearsome free kick, came close again in the 61st minute but this time his long-range strike was saved. Five minutes later Hulme's header whistled over bar but Carlisle, with Hemmings and player-coach David Lee a constant danger down the flanks, always looked capable of a point.
Carlisle United:Weaver; Pitts, Birch, Whitehead, Darby, Hemmings, Winstanley; Soley, Lee (Prokas), Stevens, Heggs (Dobie). Subs not used: Carss, Tracey, McAughtrie
Booked: Lee
Goals: Soley 90.
York City: Fettis; Edmonson (Alcide), Potter, Sertori, Jones, Hobson (Thompson), Hulme Bulloch), Agnew, McNiven, Duffield, Hall. Subs not used: Howarth, Hocking.
Booked: Edmonson, Sertori, Hulme, McNiven, Bullock.
Goals: Duffield pen 59.
Attendance: 4,087
Referee: P Richards ()
