EXETER CITY 2 CARLISLE UTD 3

THEY say football can be cruel but just sometimes, as 753 Carlisle fans discovered last night, it can lift you to the heights.

Just when it seemed their 11-hour battle with the traffic on the 692-mile round trip to the West Country would end in heartbreak, up popped Jamie Proctor to be a hero.

The on loan Bolton striker headed home Tom Miller’s long throw for the goal that put Carlisle in the play-offs.

It was a triumph of character for Keith Curle’s side who were twice behind but struck back with two penalties by skipper Danny Grainger.

Curle (below) saw his side go behind after just 10 minutes as Reuben Reid scored. Grainger equalised from the spot but Jordan Moore-taylor made it 2-1 to Exeter just before half-time.

Proctor was brought down by Ethan Ampadu in the 72nd minute for Grainger to make it 2-2 and four minutes later he scored the dramatic winner.