United played host to the U's at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon.
And it was honours even as Carlisle equalised late in the day courtesy of a stunning free kick from the in-form Jamie Devitt.
The U's had the first chance of the day when a deep free kick was recovered by Prosser. His cut back was hit on the volley by Kent but Parkes was back to clear it before it could trouble the target.
The visitors came again when Senior worked a one-two on the edge of the box. That took him past the back line but he couldn't find a team mate despite having time and space on his side.
Carlisle responded with a neat move which saw Twardek pull wide to receive the ball. He brought Etuhu into play and the midfielder was a whisker away with a rasping effort which grazed the outside of the post, with Walker well beaten.
It was a good spell for the hosts and Devitt wasn't too far away when he beat his man half way inside the U's half. He tried to squeeze his shot into the top corner and was disappointed to see it nestle on the roof of the net.
The all-action start to the encounter saw Senior send another speculative attempt over from the edge of the area, and United had half a sight when Jones snapped up a clearance from a corner with a low shot. A defender went to ground to make the block but the referee ignored the appeals for handball.
The Cumbrians were denied what looked a certain goal on 18 minutes when Campbell-Ryce turned his man inside out before curling a wonderful delivery into the box. Stockton met it with a fierce header but Walker went full stretch to palm it away just as it appeared to be crossing the line.
Midfielder Mike Jones was next to go close when he took matters into his own hands with a direct run from midfield. It opened up in front of him and Walker had to parry low to stop what was another blistering effort. Campbell-Ryce was first to the loose ball and he found Twardek with a chipped lob to the far stick. Another set of penalty appeals were ignored when the wide man was bundled to the floor.
Defender Clint Hill had to be careful when Wright found space to cross from the right flank with Colchester still willing to attack when they got the opportunity. The centre back judged his angles perfectly as he guided it over the bar.
United broke quickly and Etuhu was urged to shoot when he trapped the ball 23-yards from goal. Walker was having an excellent game and he completed another very good save, having seen the ball late.
It looked comfortable for United but they were the architects of their own downfall just before the break when they failed to recover their shape when Colchester broke quickly from a corner. Guthrie suddenly found himself with just Bonham to beat, as Senior played him clean through, and it was Senior who was on hand to roll the block from the stopper into the waiting net as the rebound fell at his feet.
Bonham had a save to make from a low shot from Eastman at the start of the second half, and Campbell-Ryce created an opening when he sent a cross in from the left. That bounced across the face of goal and there was too much for Devitt to do as he arrived late at the back post.
A shot from Jackson was next to test the United stopper, when he came from deep to take his chance, but good hands meant there was nothing to follow up.
The game became a war of midfield attrition but a tug on Twardek from Kent gave United a free kick right on the edge of the box. Devitt bent it over the wall and was unlucky to see it smash to safety off the top of the bar.
Devitt was involved again when he asked for a quick throw from Brown. He spotted Twardek at the front stick but it was awkward for the wide man and he sent his volley wide.
It was Devitt who levelled things up with another superb free kick as he made it three goals in three games when he took charge of the ball after a direct run from Lambe had seen him chopped to the floor. There was never any doubt as a thunderbolt rattled into the top corner.
Liddle then went close when he got on the end of a Twardek cross as he tried to guide it through legs and into the bottom corner. It lacked power and Walker was able to save. Colchester broke and Eastman was dangerous with a pass which took a deflection. Brown had to watch closely as he cleared it off the line and helped it on its way.
Mandron then hit the post as he jinked his way into a shooting position, and Bonham had to save from Stevenson when he tried his luck from distance. It was a good spell for the visitors but it came to a close when Jackson slashed wildly wide when he had other options.
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Goals
Carlisle United - Devitt (79)
Colchester United - Senior (44)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Bonham, Brown, Liddle, Hill, Parkes, Devitt, Jones (Lambe 66), Etuhu, Campbell-Ryce (O'Sullivan 78), Stockton (Bennett 71), Twardek. Subs - Gray, Hope, Ellis, Nadesan.
Colchester United - Walker, Jackson, Prosser, Kent, Wright, Comley, Stevenson (Murray 80), Eastman, Mandron, Senior (Szmodics 72), Guthrie (Mandeville 55). Subs - Gilmartin, Lapslie, Inniss, Ogedo-Uzokwe.
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Referee - Ross Joyce
Attendance - 4,006 (144 away fans)