Carlisle United earned their first point of the season on Friday evening as they drew 1-1 with League One high-flyers Colchester United.

It could have been even better for the Cumbrians, who took an early lead in Essex when Matty Robson scored his 20th career goal for the club.

The night had started badly for Carlisle as Sean O'Hanlon suffered a groin injury in the warm-up and had to be replaced at centre-half by midfielder Paul Thirlwell.

However, 197 visiting supporters, many of whom had made the 350-mile journey down from the Border City, were celebrating within just four minutes of kickoff.

Robson, making his first appearance of the season after overcoming a knee injury, broke the deadlock with a strike from outside the penalty area that beat on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Sam Walker at his near post.

Colchester soon responded and began to ask serious questions of the Carlisle defence, which has now conceded 17 goals in eight hours of football this season.

Tosin Olufemi rattled the Carlisle crossbar with a fierce effort on 18 minutes.

Livewire Jabo Ibehre then came close to levelling the scores with a fabulous solo effort just after half time, but his finish could not match his run.

The game soon became stretched and Robson had the chance to double his tally on the counter-attack. However, Craig Eastmond got back just in time to pinch the ball off the wide man's toes.

Carlisle thought that they had doubled their lead on the hour mark, but Liam Noble's tap-in from David Amoo's cross was correctly ruled out for offside.

The equaliser came courtesy of Fred Sears 19 minutes from time. The former West Ham forward finished well from close range after a neat pass from Gavin Massey.