It appeared to be plain sailing for Doncaster at the start when they snatched the lead after three minutes and looked well in command. James Coppinger slotted home an angled drive in fine style after Paul Heffernan had cleverly opened up the visitors' defence.
But the home side looked listless after that, despite going close to scoring on more than one occasion. Coppinger hit a tremendous curling effort just wide in the 19th minute following good work by Brian Stock and Heffernan. Then Jason Price had visiting keeper Keiren Westwood at full-stretch to fingertip the ball to safety with a glancing header following a free-kick from Stock four minute later.
But despite their efforts, Rovers were not really convincing although Westwood had to save again to keep out a swerving shot from James O'Connor after Coppinger and Paul Green had linked up in the 38th minute. Carlisle were content to pass the ball around patiently but they almost came unstuck just before the interval when Jonathan Forte cut inside to have a low shot tipped away by Westwood.
It was a different story in the second half when Carlisle grew in confidence after equalising in the 56th minute. The goal came out of the blue when recently signed former Port Vale midfielder Jeff Smith unleashed a superb 25-yarder that flew into the top corner.
Doncaster tried to rally and Westwood saved at the second attempt from Coppinger in the 74th minute. But it was Carlisle who scored again four minutes later with Hawley's stunning effort which was followed by some desperate attacking play by Doncaster in the closing stages.
Substitute Lewis Guy missed a great chance to salvage a point for Rovers in the 89th minute when his close-range volley finished high over the bar. Heffernan was only inches away in injury-time but it was just not Doncaster's day.