Carlisle made up some ground in the League Two relegation battle with a 2-2 draw against MK Dons.

Joe Tomlinson stunned the hosts as he opened the scoring with just six minutes on the clock, but Carlisle struck back through Matty Dennis midway through the first half.

The parity between the sides did not last long as the visitors retook the lead through skipper Alex Gilbey, only for Kadeem Harris to equalise for the hosts in first half stoppage time, leaving the Cumbrians six points behind third-bottom Tranmere.

MK Dons opened the scoring as Aaron Nemane slotted the ball across to Tomlinson who calmly finished at the far post.

Carlisle levelled in the 26th minute through former MK Dons forward Dennis who rose highest to head home after Archie Davies ran to the byline and delivered an excellent cross.

The visitors scored again in the 37th minute through Gilbey after he rounded the keeper following an error from the Carlisle defence.

Harris then powered Carlisle level in the fourth minute of first-half added time with a fizzing strike from the right hand side of the box.

The hosts nearly took the lead through a long-range Jordan Jones strike but Connal Trueman produced a good stop.

The vast majority of the second half saw few opportunities for either side, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ shot easily saved by Gabe Breeze.

Carlisle had a chance to clinch a winner late on as Stephen Wearne met a Jones cross but his looping header went over the bar.