In the end, the Cumbrians had keeper Peter Keen to thank for their point after a number of outstanding saves.

With only four points now separating the bottom 12 sides, the season is developing into a real tussle at the lower end of the table.

Roddy Collins was pleased with the point and said after the game: "It's nice to get a point for morale and to get a run going. We passed it really well and played some good football and could have nicked it, but we will be happy with the point.

"We have to be dogged week in, week out and keep battling away.

"Peter Keen made some great saves and is getting better every game - and Stuart Whitehead was fantastic in the middle of defence.

"It was good to get something for the supporters, who were so noisy again."

Chances in the early stages were hard to find with Steve Soley’s weak thirty yard shot the only moment of note in the first fifteen minutes.

On 17 minutes Dave Morley came closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot from 25 yards which went narrowly wide.

Oxford’s first attempt took twenty minutes to arrive and Peter Keen had to be at his best to turn away Paul Moody’s header with Jamie Brooks blazing over the loose ball.

As Carlisle continued to create the better openings Morley’s 20 yard effort , from Soley’s short free kick, flew narrowly wide.

Soley the played in Richie Foran, but a poor first touch allowed Scott Guyett to make the block.

Oxford came back into the game as half-time approached with Dean Whitehead shooting over after latching onto a loose ball ten yards out.

Jamie Brooks failed to make good contact with only Keen to beat before providing a cross just too long for the in-rushing Stuart Douglas, with a gaping goal at his mercy.

Carlisle dominated early on after the break with Foran heading wide and Soley shooting straight at Oxford keeper Ian McCaldon.

The pressure bore fruit on 54 minutes when Soley's cross was headed back across goal by Brendan McGill for Dave Rogers to score with an overhead kick.

A double substitution by Oxford saw the appearance of Manny Omoyinmi and Sam Stockley. The pair turned the game for the home side.

Stockley's 25-yard shot was saved by Keen, before a surging run down the left by Omoyinmi provided Brooks with an easy header for the equaliser on 66 minutes. Stockley then hit the post and David Savage had a goalbound effort blocked by Stuart Whitehead.

Carlisle came back on 78 minutes when a Foran header was cleared off the line by Guyett.

Keen then made two outstanding saves from Stockley as Oxford pushed for the winner.

Richardson and Omoyinmi both put chances wide and Foran blasted over for the Cumbrians.

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