United made it four unbeaten after being held to a goalless draw against Doncaster Rovers at Brunton Park.
Mike Williamson made one change from last weekend’s draw at Bromley - Aaron Hayden replaced the suspended Ben Barclay.
The Blues looked to forge their first chance down the right on two minutes following some neat interlinking play, which ended with Tyler Burey’s intended cross going out of play.
Five minutes later, it was the pair on loan from Bournemouth, Dan Adu-Adjei and Dom Sadi honing in on goal following a dink over Rovers’ backline by Ben Williams. Teddy Sharman Lowe managed to get down low and collect.
After a bright start from United, Doncaster had the best opportunity of the contest so far on the counter. Luke Molyneux and Billy Sharp drove towards Gabe Breeze’s goal, but before the latter could pull the trigger, Jon Mellish scurried back to make a vital interception.
Cameron Harper - who once again started the game in midfield - was the centrepiece of a slick one-two with Adu-Adjei, prior to the attacker hammering over from inside the visitors’ area.
Rovers’ goalkeeper, Sharman-Lowe was the most relieved man inside Brunton Park on the half-hour mark after a loose touch allowed Adu-Adjei to fire at goal on the angle, but a retreating defender cleared.
Mellish was the hosts’ saviour once again on 36 minutes, denying Molyneux before Sam Lavelle would do the same moments later to see both sides enter the interval level.
HALF-TIME: United 0-0 Doncaster Rovers
Jack Senior had Rovers’ first chance of the second-half after driving forward, but his effort was blocked by Aaron Hayden, prior to Breeze making a tremendous stop at full stretch seconds later.
As Doncaster continued to pile on the pressure, it was Kyle Hurst who fired at United’s goal next - his chance landed just wide of Breeze’s left-hand post.
Against the run of play, Adu-Adjei should’ve given the hosts the lead after Sadi threaded through a brilliant pass. A Rovers defender then rushed back to clear.
Former United man, Jordan Gibson, immediately slipped in Patrick Kelly following his introduction, who looked to cut back for Molyneux before Mellish cleared the danger once again.
On the flip side, the Blues’ substitute Josh Vela came agonisingly close to blasting home following a scurry in the Donny area - his effort was turned behind for a corner which came to nothing.
On 84 minutes, Gibson looked to fire home the opener from distance and would’ve done so if it wasn’t for a strong hand from Breeze.
Two minutes later, Georgie Kelly made his long-awaited return to action alongside Dylan McGeouch, replacing Tyler Burey and Callum Guy.
Deep into stoppage time, Cameron Harper thought he’d stolen all three points for the Blues after crashing home at the back post. The linesman on the near side deemed it to be offside to the disappointment of the majority inside Brunton Park.
FULL-TIME: United 0-0 Doncaster Rovers
Teams:
Carlisle United - Breeze, Harper, Lavelle ©, Hayden (77’ Ellis), Guy (86’ McGeouch), Adu-Adjei, Williams (71’ Neal), Mellish, Sadi, Burey (86’ Kelly), Harris (71’ Vela)
Unused subs - Lewis, Armstrong
Doncaster Rovers - Sharman-Lowe, Sterry (80’ Sbarra (90+6’ Anderson)), Maxwell (68’ Nixon), Olowu, Molyneux, Sharp (68’ Ironside), Bailey ©, Hurst (68’ Gibson), Kelly, Senior, McGrath
Unused subs - Lawlor, Broadbent
Goals:
Carlisle United - N/A
Doncaster Rovers - N/A
Yellow cards:
Carlisle United - (60’ Mellish)
Doncaster Rovers - (5’ Maxwell), (45+1’ McGrath)
Red cards:
Carlisle United - N/A
Doncaster Rovers - (90+6’ McGrath)
Match officials:
Referee - James Oldham
Assistant Referee - Lewis Raper
Assistant Referee - Adam Nichol
Fourth Official - Ivan Stankovic
Attendance:
6,837 (704 away)
