A seventh victory in eight games, and an impressive FA Cup first round upset to boot, was achieved thanks to a place somewhere near Ajiboye’s posterior, or perhaps his hip, or maybe a couple of inches of forearm...

Whatever; less than a month and a half ago, Blues fans were only growing accustomed to having a certain part of their anatomy handed to them. From the ashes of Woking, and that 5-2 defeat, they have grown something increasingly effective - and now they are earning the breaks too.

This was a notable cup win but not, all in all, from the archetype of non-league smash-and-grab. Rob Elliot’s side did not look a level below their visitors, and warranted everything they got, including the good fortune of Ajiboye’s 44th-minute winner.

Toby Mullarkey with a first half headed chance (Image: Ben Holmes)

Sure, Stephen Wearne was presumably not banking on his shot wrongfooting Salford goalkeeper Lee Burge via Ajiboye’s midsection – but certain things are not entirely accidental when you have grafted your way back into form in the way Carlisle have.

One aspect tends to follow the other, and the fact United have learned how to work their way through games in a much more comprehensive way since late September lends itself to the happy deflection they got at the end of Saturday’s first half.

It was the matchwinning moment although, in truth, there were several others too, from Archie Mair’s penalty save to the compilation of defensive actions that fended off Peter Cklamovski’s side, who are barely dropping a point in a higher division right now.

Stephen Wearne watches his shot strike David Ajiboye and deflect into the net (Image: Ben Holmes)

Substance, too, came in the way Elliot again managed his resources through the effective and timely use of substitutions – something of a calling card in this revival – and if Salford went into this game with a much-altered XI, it was hardly a scratch or apologetic team-sheet Cklamovski filed.

It was still, on paper, something one might have expected to account for the side sitting eighth in the National League. The more Carlisle progress like this, the more that placing looks something they are set to leave behind.

United celebrate their goal (Image: Ben Holmes)

From a unified Blues showing, certain individuals stood tall, notably Brad Nicholson, who was superb in meeting the challenge of taming Salford’s Ryan Graydon, and Callum Camps, who ran midfield like the League One-calibre performer he is. And an honourable mention for Mair, who has faced bench duties for most of the campaign yet was ready and tuned in to save Ryan Graydon’s 37th-minute penalty: his latest 12-yard stop in a good record when it comes to spot-kicks.

A mild autumn occasion heated up late in a first half which, until then, had seen Carlisle doggedly push onto Salford and bridge the supposed gap with good appetite but without many dramatic moments. Cklamovski held some of his stars back, such as Macaulay Langstaff, but Elliot made his own tweaks and the first 45 minutes was largely even, if anything leaning United’s way.

United made early inroads through Ryan Galvin while, at the other end, Morgan Feeney began honest battle with his old Shrewsbury colleague, Dan Udoh. Salford’s ball-play looked composed but Carlisle’s intent was clear. The visitors occupied territory down the left but failed to create anything, while Elliot’s side forced half-chances through Toby Mullarkey, Feeney and Ajiboye.

Jonah Lowes impressed after coming off the bench (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle put their teeth in when Nicholson's terrific pass set up Regan Linney to score, but the offside flag ruled that one out. There was, at least, some promising discomfort from a Salford point of view and when the Ammies suddenly got a penalty – Mullarkey penalised for a tangle with Adebola Oluwo – the favourites failed to capitalise. Mair went right and repelled Graydon’s low 12-yarder.

United then derived maximum benefit. After Ajiboye failed to round off one counter-attack, he intruded back into proceedings by diverting Wearne’s shot past a wrongfooted, scrambling Burge.

Archie Mair holds on as Salford threaten in added time (Image: Ben Holmes)

The tie was now warmly alive. Carlisle started the second half hungrily, with Wearne and Feeney in the thick of chances, and then fell into a defensive period as Salford’s play intensified. United struggled, for a time, to escape their own territory.

Yet few significant chances came, for all the visitors’ movement. Nicholson tracked Graydon’s runs in the right channel with expert timing, while Mullarkey, Feeney and others were in the trenches for blocks and clearances. Few in blue were not, at some stage, doing their bit, the excellent Camps making one exquisite interception before Taylor Allen rifled wide, while Leo Duru rose yet again with episodes of drive and quality on the right.

Changes came in bulk, Langstaff among those unleashed by Cklamovski, but Carlisle’s own replacements impressed the most. Jonah Lowes, on his home debut, performed like a veteran of countless midfield appearances while Luke Armstrong’s return re-energised the front line and Brunton Park in general.

Luke Armstrong in action as he makes his Blues comeback (Image: Ben Holmes)

United’s management of a potentially awkward closing spell was thus improved. Only on a couple of occasions in added time were there tremors – a blocked Salford shot, an effort into Mair’s hands, and a Brendan Wiredu effort into the Waterworks End – but, given what might have been expected, relatively little from the side so accustomed to winning a tier up.

That is to Carlisle’s considerable credit. And so the cup adds more colour to a campaign that is increasingly finding its feet, along with other helpful body parts.