Aaron Jarvis and Manny Onariase scored in the first half but two late goals from Carlisle United meant Scunthorpe had to share the spoils at Brunton Park on Saturday, drawing 2-2.
The Iron made five changes going into the game, with Mason O'Malley, Onariase, Alfie Beestin, Myles Hippolyte and Jarvis coming in for Lewis Thompson, Harry Davis, Jai Rowe, Hayden Hackney and Harry Bunn.
United got off to a lively start as Hippolyte stole possession early on before Jarvis was played the ball. He held it up before turning his man, drawing a foul.
O’Malley’s subsequent delivery searched for Onariase, but the hosts cleared. United come back to Rory Watson who sent the ball to the opposite area where the Iron then forced a corner.
Harry Wood’s delivery into the box from the corner was pinpoint to stand-in skipper George Taft, who saw his header brilliantly saved before Onariase put the ball back into the box. Scrimshaw headed goal wards and Jarvis made sure with a header from close range for his first goal of the season.
There was more positive play after the goal as Hippolyte, Beestin and O’Malley worked well down the left following Alex Perry and Taft’s work to retrieve possession. The Iron worked it into the box on three occasions, but all were headed away.
With 10 minutes played, Onariase got his foot in to block a long range effort from Joe Riley as the hosts won back possession on half way. The Iron then come away with the ball, with Jarvis winning another free-kick.
Soon after, Joe Riley sent in a long throw from the right channel for the hosts. The Iron won contact before Taft hooked clear. Beestin stayed down with an injury and play was halted. He was soon back on his feet following treatment, which included his right hand being bandaged up, with play restarting with a drop ball on half way.
A loose backpass was played to Magnus Norman in the Carlisle goal in the 22nd minute, with his heavy touch seeing Jake Scrimshaw chase him down. His clearance was then to Jarvis who hit the top of the net with his quick shot, narrowly missing the target.
Four minutes later, Watson came out to punch clear an inviting cross into the Iron penalty area before making a fine save from a long range left-footed shot from Jordan Gibson, with the effort bouncing up in front of him.
On 28 minutes, there was a chance for the hosts as a cross came into the box from the right, with Jack Armer rising highest at the back post to head across goal and wide of the target.
Shortly after, O’Malley prevented a corner and found Jarvis on halfway, who twice won headers before Wood sent Scrimshaw on his way down the left. Beestin then looked to find Jarvis, but the ball was shielded out for a goal kick.
In the 36th minute, Ross Millen’s first time cross found Beestin, who looked to find space before seeing his shot blocked.
Soon after that, Scrimshaw looked to be a nuisance as he chased a ball through the middle with two defenders tracking him. He almost got on the end of the ball at the edge of the box, but the Iron were then penalised for an adjudged foul.
With 44 minutes played, there was a corner to the Iron as Millen’s inviting cross from the right was turned away by Armer.
It was another brilliant delivery from an Iron corner, this time via O’Malley, with Onariase unmarked to bullet his header into the top corner, in off the crossbar.
There was a break in play immediately in the second period as Jarvis won an aerial header, but Rod McDonald headed the Iron frontman’s head, with both staying down with head injuries. Both players were soon back on their feet though, and able to continue.
On 50 minutes, Taft headed away a Carlisle corner, as handball protests from the crowd were turned down and the Iron broke, which culminated in Wood seeing a low effort across goal well held by Norman, with Jarvis lurking for the rebound.
Then, Wood calmly found Jarvis with a good through ball. He turned his man and slotted in Scrimshaw who was denied going through on goal by a fine last ditched tackle.
The home fans wanted a 53rd minute penalty as Zach Clough went down in the Iron penalty area, but there were no appeals from any Carlisle players and it was a shake of the head from the referee as Rory Watson gathered the ball.
Just a minute later, play was spread wide to the overlapping run of Millen on the right. He played a first time ball low towards the front post which Norman gathered as Scrimshaw made the run.
With 68 minutes played, United made their first chance of the afternoon as Wood was replaced by Tom Pugh.
Two minutes after, O’Malley headed away a cross from the left, with Mellor sending a 20-yard effort high into the stands soon after.
Then, the home side's Jon Mellish got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the box, but slipped as he struck it with his left foot, resulting in a goal kick to the Iron.
They had a chance from a free-kick soon after when McDonald connected with a header, but his effort went across the goal and wide of the target.
There was a fine save from Watson at his near post on 80 minutes to deny Alessandra’s low drive towards goal from inside the box.
Just a minute later, the hosts did manage to pull one back as Jordan Gibson drilled the ball across goal and into the far corner of the net.
There was a double Iron change straight after, as Rowe and Tyrone O'Neill replaced Millen and Jarvis.
The hosts pressed to try and find a leveller, with Taft and Onariase heading away balls sent into the box.
With a minute of normal time left, Lewis Alessandra turned and had a go from range, with a slight deflection taking the ball around the post and out for a corner.
Five minutes of added time were given, and Alessandra sent another shot wide before another one deflected into the path of the experienced striker. Watson came out and sprawled, as the effort went across goal, but the offside flag was up.
However, the hosts weren't done and equalised right at the death as Brennan Dickenson headed in the equaliser following a right-wing cross into the box.
Scunthorpe return to action next Saturday when they host Port Vale at the Sands Venue Stadium.
CARLISLE: Norman, Mellor, Armer, McDonald, Riley (Dickenson, 40), Guy, Clough (Alessandra, 67), Mellish, Abrahams (Young, 59), Whelan, Gibson.
CARLISLE SUBS NOT USED: Jensen, Charters, Feeney, Mampala.
IRON: Watson, Millen (Rowe, 82), O'Malley, Taft, Onariase, Beestin, Hippolyte, Wood (Pugh, 68), Scrimshaw, Jarvis (O'Neill, 82), Perry.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Balme, Green, Hallam, Hackney.
ATTENDANCE: 4,499 (176 away).