Callum Whelan’s second-half winner fired Carlisle closer to safety with a 2-1 win over Bromley at Brunton Park.
Whelan netted a 54th minute winner from Stephen Wearne’s initial short pass, although his strike ultimately took a deflection on its way into the goal.
Wearne had fired Carlisle into a 13th-minute lead through a curled strike from Matthew Dennis’ lay-off pass as the Cumbrians dominated the game.
Ex Carlisle player, Harry McKirdy dragged Bromley level from a 28th minute lobbed strike via Michael Cheek’s diagonal cross.
Carlisle now sit seven points from safety despite remaining rock bottom of the League Two table after Tranmere were held to a goalless draw at Fleetwood Town.
Bromley slipped to 12th position and now seven points off the final play-off spot, which marked a huge blow for their play-off dreams with eight games left this season.
Sat six points off the last play-off spot ahead of kick-off, Bromley knew that they couldn’t afford any slip-ups across the remainder of the season amidst a scrappy start to the game with little clear-cut chances.
Carlisle on the other hand were in a similar position of needing an impeccable run-in but at the foot of the table with a nine-point gap of safety, which took a positive turn as a 13th-minute counter attack found Dennis who laid the ball off for Wearne to curl into the right corner to boost the Cumbrians’ survival chances.
Kadeem Harris almost added further belief of a great escape for Carlisle just two minutes later on another counter-attack, yet the ex Cardiff City midfielder agonisingly struck the left post before he then saw a 19th-minute shot saved by Grant Smith.
Bromley though had ex Carlisle player, McKirdy in their starting line-up after he scored a stunner as a substitute in their 2-2 draw at home to Walsall last time out, and he delivered a carbon copy goal with a lobbed strike from Cheek’s 28th-minute diagonal cross from the right to restore parity.
Both teams subsequently tried to find a second goal before half time but the best chance fell to Carlisle in the 45th minute, which saw Jordan Jones’ half-turn shot from Cameron Harper’s pass parried away by Smith.
Carlisle continued to look full of fight early in the second half as Harris whipped in a cross barely a minute into the restart which Dennis nodded onto the torso of Bryon Webster, yet referee – Robert Madley bizarrely declared Webster to had handballed and awarded a penalty to Carlisle.
Justice was however served as Harris converted the penalty onto the left post despite Smith diving correctly to his right-hand side.
Smith made a crucial save in the 53rd minute as Jones’ cross hit the crossbar and Harris met the rebounding ball with a header, which Smith punched away with his left hand.
Carlisle however weren’t denied barely a minute later as Wearne teed up Whelan to rifle a low shot into the far-right corner from a short corner-kick, which was deflected in beyond Smith’s reach.
Bromley quickly set about trying to again mount a comeback as Jude Arthurs nodded over from a 63rd minute free-kick, whilst Carlisle almost successfully counter-attacked moments later but Smith blocked Dennis’ low shot.
Arthurs once again saw another chance to equalise as he rifled over the top-right corner from Nicke Kabamba’s 73rd-minute cutback pass from close range.
Kabamba a minute later saw his own chance denied after he met Cheek’s lay-off touch yet his shot was cleared off the line by Cameron Harper.
Carlisle eventually saw the game out for only their seventh league win of the season and cut their deficit towards safety to seven points with a game in hand, which will take place on Tuesday 25 March against MK Dons.
What’s Next?
Carlisle are back at home in a rescheduled clash against MK Dons on Tuesday 25 March at 7:45pm GMT as the Cumbrians continue their push for a great escape.
Bromley will turn their attention to a now absolute must-win encounter at home to Salford on Saturday 29 March at 3pm GMT at Hayes Lane, if Andy Woodman’s Ravens want to stand any chance of snatching the final play-off spot.
Teams
Carlisle: Gabriel Breeze, Archie Davies, Sam Lavelle, Terell Thomas, Cameron Harper, Josh Vela (Guy 70′), Callum Whelan, Stephen Wearne (Bevan 92′), Kadeem Harris, Jordan Jones, Matthew Dennis (Kelly 81′)
Substitutes: Joe Bevan, Jack Ellis, Elliot Embleton, Sean Fusire, Callum Guy, Georgie Kelly, Harry Lewis
Bromley: Grant Smith, Harry McKirdy (Imray 57′), Deji Elerewe, Byron Webster, Adam Mayor, Jude Arthurs, Ashley Charles (Kabamba 66′), Corey Whitely, Ben Thompson, Brooklyn Ilunga (Ifill 79′), Michael Cheek
Substitutes: Marcus Ifill, Danny Imray, Nicke Kabamba, Sam Long, Idris Odutayo, Nathan Paul-Lavaly, Omar Sowunmi
