Carlisle beat Newport to climb into play-off picture
Second-half goals from Jabo Ibehre and Nicky Adams fired Carlisle back into the Sky Bet League Two play-off picture as a 2-1 win over Newport and left the Welshmen facing an agonising last day battle to preserve their league status.
County grabbed an early lead through defender Micky Demetriou, but relentless Carlisle pressure finally paid off with two goals in two minutes.
Newport went in front with their first attack of any note in the 12th minute when Alex Samuel forced a free-kick just outside the area
Sean Rigg whipped the ball into the box where Demetriou met it with a thumping header that flew in off the underside of the bar.
Carlisle continued to have the lion's share of possession with the returning Adams raining in crosses from both flanks and a series of dangerous corners, but the County defence stood firm.
The home side's best effort came on the stroke of half time when Mark Proctor's measured right-foot curler from the edge of the penalty area left Joe Day clutching thin air as it bounced back off the bar.
Day came to Newport's rescue after the break with a fine instinctive save to deny Proctor, but Newport could only man the barricades for so long and Carlisle hit them with two goals in as many minutes.
Ibehre lashed home the first in the 58th minute from just inside the area after Adams' corner was not cleared, the striker's fifth goal in five games, then Adams played a clever one-two with Jamie Devitt before firing a superb left-foot shot from 20 yards which nestled just inside Day's right-hand post.
Day prevented further damage with fine saves from Luke Joyce and Ibehre while Demetriou's free-kick, just wide from 25 yards, briefly raised County's hopes late on.
Source : PA
Source: PA