The quality of their performance in that period has been at both ends of the footballing spectrum but as you would expect from an Ian Atkins side has never lacked commitment.

The Cumbrians performances against Torquay and Halifax were full of good things and only lacking in the conversion of possession and chances into goals.

In contrast this narrow victory over a Macclesfield side, still harbouring ambitions of a play-off place, was down to grit and determination and grinding out a result against a better team.

The often dire Carlisle performance triggered an Ian Atkins tongue in cheek comment of: “It will never replace football! It was one of those games. We looked very heavy legged again after the Halifax game, when we didn’t get back to the early hours of the morning. Macclesfield looked a yard sharper than us to be honest and possibly were unlucky not to get a result. At the start of the season we were losing those games, so I’m not complaining, because we’ve played a lot better than that and lost. You have got to understand the pressure the players are under. It’s important that you get your three points, but the crowd appreciate that, and although they probably deserved their money back today they still gave the lads a standing ovation at the finish because we won one nil.”

Carlisle started brightly enough with Scott Dobie heading over a Jon Cullen cross. Ian Stevens then went close twice with a turn and shot past the post and a header straight at keeper Lee Martin.

As the half evolved the Silkmen’s domination increased and a 13th minute Karl Munroe effort zipped narrowly the wrong side of Matty Glennon’s right hand post.

Ex Carlisle striker Richard Tracey then fired wide from 25 yards and Chris Shuker miss-hit his shot when through on goal.

With 26 minutes gone Kieron Durkan forced Glennon into another save and two minutes later the Carlisle keeper had to be alert to keep out Tracey’s shot from a Lee Glover cross.

In a rare attack the home side should have taken the lead when Jon Cullen’s 31st minute through ball sent Gordon Connelly racing away only for the midfielder to shoot weakly straight at the advancing Martin.

Three minutes later Lee Maddison came to Carlisle’s rescue when he instinctively headed Darren Tinson’s goalbound header off the line.

Carlisle picked up a little towards the end of the half with Dobie heading over a Birch cross and then going close with a 25 yard shot over the bar.

The Cumbrians got the all important breakthrough two minutes into the second half following a Tracey foul on Darren Carr. Mick Galloway’s resulting free kick evaded all but Scott Dobie, lurking at the back post, leaving the striker to prod home from a yard out for his twelfth goal of the season.

Macclesfield came storming back with Glennon saving the Cumbrians twice, turning a 52nd Glover shot for a corner closely followed by another spectacular save to keep out a Danny Adams shot.

With Macclesfield dominating, a rare Carlisle attack on 66 minutes almost wrapped things up, when Ian Stevens was unlucky to see a deft chip hit the underside of the bar before being cleared to safety.

The rest of the game saw Macclesfield camped in the Carlisle half with Damian Whitehead, Shuker and Durkin all going close before the relief of the final whistle came.

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