But the genial Irishman still wasn’t fully happy as he felt his side had let Rovers into the game in the first half when they had controlled everything from the whistle.

The brief spell allowed Rovers to take the lead but goals from Craig Farrell and Richie Foran, either side of halftime, ensured the points travelled back to Cumbria.

Collins said after the game: “To get a win over a team that is down there with you is a great result. The first half I wasn’t happy. Physically we were great for the first ball but mentally we were a bit off for the second ball and it caused a few problems. I thought we could have dealt with their wide player a little better down our left hand side and subsequently it cost us the goal. But I felt down our right hand side we didn’t expose the space that was there. So I said to Brian Shelley at half time, as he was a spare man at the back he should get down the line with Jon McCarthy and I felt that swung the game. The win is brilliant but the manner in which you win is more satisfying for me. I think we now have a good side here.”

Carlisle had the better of the early stages with Darren Kelly having a goalbound header blocked by Adam Barrett and Shelley’s shot from the edge of the box being saved by Scott Howie.

But warnings came when Giuliano Grazioli’s shot was parried away by Matty Glennon with Wayne Carlisle blasting the loose ball over the bar and Grazioli again going close heading over from a Graham Hyde cross.

The warnings were not heeded as Grazioli grabbed the lead on 33 minutes. Danny Boxhall’s cross presented Shelley with a routine clearance but his mishit went straight to Grazioli and he made no mistake from twelve yards.

But just as Rovers were building some momentum Farrell brought things all square for the Cumbrians on the stroke of halftime. Mark Hudson intercepted on the edge of the box to square to Farrell who calmly curled the ball round Howie into the bottom corner.

Immediately after the break Glennon saved well at the feet of Paul Tait but Carlisle were soon to take control. Kelly had a 50th minute free kick saved and a minute later the crucial goal arrived.

Shelley’s penetrating run saw the ball fall to Kelly’s feet and his pinpoint cross allowed Foran to steal between two defenders to steer a cushioned header into the bottom corner.

McCarthy then had a shot blocked by Hyde and Foran’s effort was saved by Howie but Rovers were handed a lifeline on 69 minutes. Mcarthy was shown a second yellow card for an innocuous challenge on Kevin Street and with it their dominance stalled, but not for long. Farrell’s curler was spectacularly held by Howie and McGill should have done better after Farrell’s layoff gave him space.

But the Cumbrians had Glennon to thank for a stunning save at the feet of David Gilroy in the last minute to ensure the banking of the points.