Whilst this was a game analogous to the dustcart after the Lord Mayor’s Show, the point was not lost on Carlisle’s 800 strong travelling Blue Army.

The celebrations that greeted Richie Foran’s late equaliser and the eventual final whistle were no less passionate than anything seen last Sunday and all the more remarkable as this was merely another point nearer Third Division safety.

As Carlisle go into their final six league games of another fraught season Manager Roddy Collins issued a heart felt plea to the fans to rally round his players to lift them to safety.

Collins said: “ I have to say the supporters were absolutely brilliant. Even when a goal down they never let us down and were absolutely fantastic. The volume they generated made it like a home game for Carlisle and we need that. I really appeal to the people who went to Cardiff to please come down on Tuesday night against York and give us that extra lift. It’s getting near the end and a couple of wins will see us right. It will get everything out of the way this year and I promise next year will be a very fruitful season. We have a young team and if we can get the crowd behind us it gives the kids a great lift.”

Carlisle almost conceded a fifth minute goal when Lee Connell’s deep free kick found George Clegg unmarked at the far post but Matty Glennon reacted quickly to turn the shot for a corner.

The close shave acted as a wake up call as Brian Shelley got forward hit the target from 25 yards before the Cumbrians were unlucky not to take the lead. Shelley won the ball midway in the Bury half before releasing Stuart Green but the midfielder agonised as his shot across Glyn Garner came back off the far post.

Bury then had their best spell. Glennon saved well from a Clegg header before a slip from Darren Kelly let in David Nugent, only for the big forward to blast a gilt edged chance over the bar.

Danny Swailes was then guilty of a glaring miss, having time at the back post only to lift his shot over the bar with only Glennon to beat.

The Bury pressure finally paid off on 33 minutes when Nugent atoned for his earlier miss by heading past Glennon from Clegg’s left wing cross.

The goal sparked Carlisle into life as they finished the half on top. Jon McCarthy’s deep free kick was headed back across goal by Foran, only for Paul Raven to volley over.

Darren Kelly then went closer still, thundering a header against the bar from Green’s free kick.

Four minutes into the second half Peter Murphy kept Carlisle in the game with a goal line clearance from a Swailes header.

The introduction of Brian Wake for Craig Farrell on 53 minutes saw Carlisle hold the ball up in the final third more effectively and the tactical change finally paid off in the 80th minute as the Cumbrians drew level.

Wake was instrumental in the build up as he won a knock down from Will McDonagh to release Foran on the left side of the box. With seemingly nothing on for Foran, he took a single touch before volleying a terrific shot across Garner into the top corner of the net.

McDonagh had the best chance to secure all three points but volleyed wide from a Foran chest down.