United started brightly as they played down the slope of North West Counties League side Congleton Town's pitch in the first-half and took the lead through skipper Dan Kirkup. Central midfielder James Earl sent in a typical excellent delivery to the far-post where giant centre-half Kirkup met the ball sweetly to head into the corner and put the Blues 1-0 up.
Later in the half the Cumbrians doubled their lead with a goal from 3rd-year YTS midfielder Dan Dillon. Earl made a great run down the right and cut the ball back from the by-line for the onrushing Dillon to finish crisply from 12 yards out. Going into the interval with a 2-0 goal lead the young Blues must have been confident have taking all three points home, but the Silkmen, aided by the slope of the pitch, came roaring back in the second half.
It was all Macclesfield early on in the second period but they were unable to find the breakthrough until the 70 minute mark when a weak free-kick was given away. The ball was floated into the box and finished well to bring the Silkmen right back in the game at 2-1 to Carlisle. The disappointing equaliser came five minutes from time through a penalty, after United had failed to clear their lines twice, the spot-kick eventually being awarded after an offence committed by the Blues from a Macclesfield corner kick in.
The home side had chances to win the game even after that as they really put the Cumbrians under the cosh in the closing stages. Left-back Matthew Blake saving a point for the Blues deep in injury time as he cleared off his own line to preserve a 2-2 draw for Carlisle. Two points dropped then for United and it has often been a feature of their League campaign that they should have won games they have drawn or lost.
United line-up :
Neil Thompson, Ashley Combe, Matthew Blake, Terry Stewart, Dan Kirkup, Martin Graham, James Earl, Shaun Vipond, Dan Dillon, Andy Hardman, Rob Bainbridge.
Used substitutes :
Gary Baker and Richie Hoban.
Other results in the division :
Blackpool 1-0 Chester
Bury 0-1 Oldham
Preston 4-1 Burnley
Shrewsbury 0-2 Walsall
Stockport 1-0 Wrexham
Tranmere 3-2 Rochdale
Wigan 0-4 Port Vale
Updated Youth Team Results : Click here
Updated Youth Team Table : Click here