Teenage substitute Gary Madine saved Carlisle's blushes with an equaliser seven minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw against Blue Square Premier strugglers Grays.

Grays, pointless in their last nine games on the road, grabbed the lead just after half-time through central defender Jamie Stuart.

And only a fine finger-tip save by Carlisle keeper Ben Williams prevented Ishmael Welsh making it 2-0 not long after.

Carlisle, with 11 defeats out of the last 12, were second best at times and sadly short of confidence until Madine's late header saved the Cumbrians more agony.

Carlisle could class themselves a shade fortunate to go in level at half-time after their non-league opponents had the two best scoring chances.

With 18 minutes gone Andre McCollin sliced through the middle of the home defence after an error by John Welsh.

The Grays' forward swerved past two defenders but keeper Williams got his angles right and blocked the shot from the edge of the area.

More sloppy Carlisle defending, this time with Josh Gowling the guilty party, let in Stuart Thurgood but after advancing into the box the busy Grays midfield man dragged his shot a yard wide of the target.

In first half added time Williams had to rush out of his area to clear from McCollin after Danny Livesey had been robbed inside the Carlisle half.

Grays snatched the lead seven minutes after the break when Jon Ashton headed Fabian Wilnis's free-kick back into the heart of the penalty area and Stuart eased between two defenders to hit a crisp first-time volley past Williams from 10 yards.

Carlisle's first shot at goal came in the 55th minute when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson fired in a speculative 30-yarder which was straight at keeper David Button.

It seemed that Grays battling performance was going to be enough to earn them a surprise win until Carlisle's late surge which almost resulted in a second goal in the 90th minute for Bridge-Wilkinson whose first time volley dipped inches over the bar.