It was an all-action first half, Carlisle taking the lead against the run of play before Hartlepool dragged themselves back in to the game, only for the visitors to regain the lead a minute before half-time. Carlisle's opener, on 19 minutes, came when they scored with their first attack as Joe Anyinsah's cross was turned into the net by Danny Graham's knee.
However, Hartlepool were level on 39 minutes when David Foley picked up a short corner on the left and crossed to the far post for Richie Barker to plant a close-range header into the roof of the net.
Hartlepool thought they were back in control, but they were shaken again a minute before half-time when Anyinsah and Graham combined again. This time Anyinsah's cross from the right was deep, and Graham was on the end of it wide on the left to loop his header over Jan Budtz and into the far corner of the net.
After the break it was all Pools, but Barker's header scraped the top of the bar and sub Joel Porter was wide with a shot from the edge of the area, and it looked as if they weren't going to find the goal they needed until Mackay came up with the goods.
Carlisle had looked a good side on the break, their pace and Graham's finishing always a threat against Hartlepool's more methodical, passing game. The end result was a fantastic game that provided plenty of thrills for the fans.