LUKE Summerfield’s 88th-minute equaliser earned York City a 1-1 draw at play-off contenders Carlisle.

The Minstermen picked up their first point of 2016 after Summerfield’s late effort cancelled out Jason Kennedy’s first-half goal for the hosts.

Carlisle had earlier called Scott Flinders into fifth-minute action when he saved Mark Ellis’ header down to his right following a David Atkinson free kick.

Kennedy then aimed an ambitious 30-yard effort well wide before displaying greater composure to give Keith Curle’s men a 15th-minute lead.

The former Bradford midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of City’s penalty box and skipped past Russell Penn and Dave Winfield challenges before finishing coolly past Flinders from eight yards.

Jabo Ibehre went on to head well off target from an inswinging free kick by Macauley Gilliesphey, who headed over a gaping goal himself after Flinders failed to deal with Tom Miller’s long throw into the six-yard box.

The final chance of the half, meanwhile, saw Ibehre head over from four yards with a cross from Derek Asamoah that was delivered at a difficult speed and height for the Cumbrians’ top scorer.

After the restart, Gilliesphey blasted over from 30 yards following a Luke Hendrie mistake, while Vadaine Oliver mustered the Minstermen’s first goal attempt on 53 minutes but his long-range drive was deflected off target.

A clever free-kick routine then created space for Atkinson to drill a 25-yard attempt at Flinders before City skipper Russell Penn was fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a late tackle and was substituted moments later.

Just past the hour, Asamoah sidefooted wide from eight yards after Kennedy had pulled the ball back from the left byline.

Home keeper Mark Gillespie, meanwhile, was forced into his first save on 63 minutes when he safely collected Femi Ilesanmi’s intended cross.

Carlisle had opportunities to put the game beyond doubt with Asamoah’s edge-of-the-box effort deflected away from goal by Hendrie, while Ibehre’s 15-yard shot lacked the power to trouble Flinders.

Ibehre also headed woefully wide from four yards following an Asamoah right-wing cross.

At the other end, Kenny McEvoy’s low right-wing cross was turned over at the near post by fellow replacement Bradley Fewster, while final substitute Danny Galbraith created a ten-yard chance for Oliver that was deflected wide.

Flinders went on to make a one-on-one save to deny Hallam Hope after Atkinson had shrugged off Galbraith, Matty Dixon and Hendrie challenges.

City, though, broke up the other end and, when Galbraith’s thumping long-range shot struck the post, Summerfield was on hand in the left channel to sweep the ball across Gillespie and into the opposite corner from 12 yards.

In injury time, Ibehre brushed the sidenetting from an Antony Sweeney cross, but City were not to be denied a share of the spoils.

Carlisle: Gillespie, Atkinson, Raynes, Ellis, Gilliesphey, Miller (Gilliead, 64), Kennedy, Dicker, Hery (Sweeney, 84), Ibehre, Asamoah (Hope, 80). Subs not used: Wyke, Hanford, Comley, McQueen.

York: Flinders; Hendrie, Winfield, Cameron, Ilesanmi; Dixon, Penn (McEvoy, 64), Summerfield, Coulson (Galbraith, 75); Oliver, Massanka (Fewster, 64). Subs not used: Carson, Swan, Hare, Ingham.