Callum Whelan’s second-half strike handed Carlisle a vital win as they beat Bromley 2-1 in a pulsating encounter at Brunton Park.

The Blues took the lead in the 13th minute through Stephen Wearne’s first goal for the club, but Harry McKirdy equalised for the Ravens in the 28th minute.

Kadeem Harris missed a penalty for the hosts just after the break, but Whelan got the all-important winning goal in the 54th minute to breathe some life into the Blues’ survival bid.

Carlisle took the lead through Wearne when he curled in a lovely strike after some nice link-up play from Matthew Dennis.

Bromley then equalised through former Carlisle man McKirdy, who lobbed the onrushing Gabe Breeze after a good ball from Michael Cheek.

Just moments after the break, Carlisle were awarded a penalty when a Dennis shot was blocked by Byron Webster’s hand in the six-yard box, but Harris hit the post from the spot.

Carlisle continued to knock on the door as Jordan Jones hit the crossbar, while Harris’ header on the rebound was excellently saved by Grant Smith.

However, the Blues got the goal they deserved when Wearne turned provider as his ball found Whelan, whose low shot was deflected into the bottom-right corner to give him his first Carlisle goal.

The Ravens missed two huge chances to equalise when Jude Arthurs pounced on a defensive mix-up, but he blazed a shot over the bar and then Cameron Harper cleared a Nicke Kabamba effort off the line just moments later.

Cheek had a huge chance to equalise late on, but League Two’s joint-top scorer uncharacteristically missed the target and Carlisle took all three points.