Norwegian Bjornsson had given Carlisle a warning in the opening two minutes with a shot that was scrambled clear, but he did find the net in the fifth minute shortly after Monkhouse had had an effort deflected away from goal. Bjornsson sweeping in a six-yard volley from a Leon McSweeney corner, the big striker then heading a Ritchie Humphreys cross over the top three minutes later.
Adam Boyd then had a shot deflected wide as Hartlepool stayed on top before Harte's free-kick into the visitors box saw the Blues appealing for a penalty for a shirt pull on Danny Livesey, the appeal though was waved away by referee Andrew Taylor. Livesey though did go close shortly afterwards when he headed a Graham Kavanagh corner wide of the far-post.
Harte then zipped a pacey free-kick inches past the woodwork before he did grab a Carlisle equaliser on 33 minutes. The former Leeds man, following a goalmouth scramble on a Robson inswinging corner during a spell of heavy rain and very strong wind, managing to slam home a shot from close range. Those awful weather conditions calming down a little after the break, with them being at the back of the home side in the opening period.
Kavanagh then shot wide four minutes later for the Blues before Humphreys replied for the visitors with a long range effort which flashed just wide of goalkeeper Adam Collin's right-hand post. Robson having the last chance of the half with a header that disappeared wide as both sides quickly took refuge from the wintry Arctic scene.
Carlisle came out strongly after the break and a quiet Vincent Pericard hammered a shot wide early on before Peter Hartley replied with a very similar effort for Hartlepool. The Cumbrians made it 2-1 on 52 minutes though as Taiwo got his first goal for the club, the on-loan Chelsea midfielder finishing crisply from 15 yards out from a Pericard cut-back.
The home side were well on top now and Pericard had a shot wide moments later, but the visitors were still showing something on the break and Hartley once more slammed a powerful effort off target. It was 3-1 to Carlisle on 63 minutes however when a mishit cross in from the left by Robson flew over the top of goalkeeper Scott Flinders, pinged off the inside of the post, hit Flinders on the back and then went into the net, some stroke of fortune for the Blues.
Pools substitute Jon-Andre Fredriksen then had a shot well saved by Collin before Pericard for Carlisle sent a shot wide of the target. Flinders was called into action shortly afterwards though when home substitute Scott Dobie made a good run forward only to send a pretty weak 18-yard drive straight into the arms of the visitors stopper.
Pericard then tested Flinders with a much more powerful effort, the former Crystal Palace glovesman then having to be alert to get up and block away a shot on the rebound from Joe Anyinsah. Just as the game looked to be dying away Pools brought things to life in the 90th minute when Monkhouse finished from close range on the back of a right-wing cross in from Fredriksen.
The visitors then had a very big shout turned down for a penalty in injury time on what looked like a blatant handball by Blues left-back Evan Horwood but play went on and the home side saw out a 3-2 victory. The win shifting Carlisle up to a heady 12th in the table and level on points with Hartlepool themselves.