DISAPPOINTMENT and frustration – two words to sum up Swindon Town’s performance against Carlisle United as a momentary grasp on the play-off frame came to an apparent halt.

Laboured Carlisle were to take the lead through Hallam Hope’s deflected effort in the first half before Town levelled courtesy of Kyle Bennett’s wicked free-kick.

Town pressed in the second half, but were undone amid the home side’s momentary period of dominance.

Gary Liddle was left red-faced after having a header disallowed, but travelling fans were silenced by Callum O’Hare’s late strike which won the game.

Richie Wellens named an unchanged XI following last week’s 3-0 win at home to Colchester United.

Tom Broadbent and Dion Conroy continued to control the centre of defence while Canice Carroll and Jak McCourt controlled the heart of midfield.

Town started the brighter side as neither team really threatened to open the scoring in the first 10 minutes.

Anthony Gerrard’s header from a corner with eight minutes played was the closest the hosts came to scoring, but he guided his effort over Vigouroux’s crossbar.

Pressing work from Robinson, Bennett and Woolery stood out as Town’s best attribute from the opening exchanges – Carlisle often restricted in their options when breaking the half-way line.

But that trend soon broke as Carlisle grabbed the game’s first goal with 14 minutes played.

Hallam Hope’s decision to go for goal and not pick Mark Cullen out on his left proved fruitful. Hope’s shot was wickedly deflected off of Conroy’s leg before nestling into Vigouroux’s bottom left corner.

In truth, Carlisle should have added to their lead at least once in the minutes that followed.

O’Hare and Cullen enjoyed a period of dominance over markers Bennett and Knoyle – which led to an inch-perfect cross towards Hope on the edge of the six-yard box.

Hope’s failed to shoot after hesitation, before Regan Slater’s effort from outside the area was directed well wide.

Town created their best chance of the first half with 25 minutes played as Bennett picked up a loose midfield ball before advancing forward.

Neglecting Robinson’s run, Bennett tried to recreate last week’s goal against Colchester. But it didn’t end quite as spectacularly, with Collin comfortably gathering the ball.

United were then forced into a change as Cullen departed the field – Nathan Thomas replacing.

Meanwhile Richie Wellens appeared to make a tactical switch as Keshi Anderson replaced McCourt.

Wellens’ tactical tweak saw Carroll adopt the holding role while Bennett momentarily moved over to the right.

The change worked for Town, who equalised with six minutes remaining in the half through Kyle Bennett’s well-weighted free kick.

To the left of the D, Bennett placed a curling shot over the wall and beyond Collin’s right reach.

That was to be the last of Town’s chances of the half – though a late corner almost resulted in a shot on goal before referee Ben Toner called a free kick.

Town started the second half much better than disjointed Carlisle.

Bennett’s in swinging corner was nodded down by Woolfenden before Robinson couldn’t quite reach a dangerously loose ball.

Woolery then tried his luck from distance, as Carlisle relied largely on the efforts of Hope and Slater to move forward.

The home side’s lull stretched as the game passed its hour mark.

Kaiyne Woolery should’ve done better on two occasions as Carlisle counted themselves lucky not to be behind.

He first denied himself the chance to shoot from a tight angle before blasting the ball out for a throw-in from a favourable position – again at a tight angle.

The game’s earlier laboured nature returned after the hour mark passed. A series of poor midfield passes made for below-par viewing.

Keshi Anderson did at least cut inside two men with 67 minutes played before forcing Collin into a parrying save, which the hosts soon won a free-kick from after Woolery committed a foul.

Carlisle at last clicked into life with 20 minutes played. A corner was met by Parkes, who headed the ball down towards Gerrard.

Gerrard’s reaching shot was guided wide of Vigouroux’s far-post though.

The hosts were then denied a second goal from a free-kick as Gary Liddle met an out swinging free kick first.

Liddle proceeded to slide on his knees in the direction of Carlisle’s far corner flag, before play was called back for offside.

Liddle’s embarrassment was saved however as O’Hare re-established the home side’s one-goal lead minutes later.

Granted time and space in the box, O’Hare comfortably slotted past Vigouroux’s far reach.

A justified handball shout was turned down in stoppage time – something that perhaps summed up a disappointing trip north.