Instead, what we had here was a poetic end to a ridiculously good week, and indeed a ridiculous one. The pinnacle came in the 96th minute at Altrincham: the home goalkeeper up for a corner, United clearing and breaking, and a few moments later Lowes vanishing into a crowd of limbs after scoring his first career goal.

Football always rewards those prepared to take their opportunity, even if has only just tapped at the door. Before Harrogate, Saturday’s finale was nowhere near the agenda. A couple of midfield suspensions later, plus the early terminating of a loan, and 18-year-old Lowes has now written his own indelible line. The scenes at the end of this 4-2 win were utterly wonderful.

Regan Linney revels in Callum Whelan's equaliser (Image: Martyn Haworth)

The scenes afterwards, too, when Lowes trotted back out for some extra running, joining fellow substitutes that included Ryan Galvin, who was being beckoned by travelling fans to “get your cards out” – a call-back to Wednesday’s impudent celebrations.

The away end at Moss Lane was unshackled, in party mood. It proved one of those giddy afternoons where events come together in brilliant and boisterous harmony. A testing game developed into another characterful Carlisle United victory featuring yet more positive plotlines, Lowes’ sweet moment the very latest.

Before that, some other good individual tales were told, like a volleyed goal by Callum Camps which arrived in Altrincham’s net like a statement of class. There was the continuation of Callum Whelan’s renaissance, and Brad Nicholson’s recovery from an early slip to help fashion Micah Obiero’s outstanding strike.

Kenton Richardson keeps his eyes on the ball (Image: Martyn Haworth)

Yet the collective is also everything, namely United’s growth from a patchy first half into a potent second, aided not for the first time lately by some well-made and effective substitutions. It’s not how you start but how you finish, they say.

As against Solihull Moors, as barmily against Harrogate, Carlisle’s replacements helped tilt another game their way. This underlines the buy-in that seems to be there in the squad under Rob Elliot right now, the unity that has grown through a bunch of wins that initially grew from crisis point but now have the gust of momentum.

Six wins from seven, four away wins on the spin for the first time in 31 years: Carlisle keep sprinting away from that dismal day against Woking with impressive pace. That their current run still does not see them in the play-off places reflects the flaws that accompanied 2026/27 initially, and highlights the work still ahead.

Yet who, seeing their work in October, does not now believe that good things are now in reach? Altrincham, here, were tricky opponents, a side especially at home with a winning way. United, before this recovery of form, might well have lost here. Identity, though, has proved a happily changeable thing.

Initially Carlisle seemed both sapped by their nine-man midweek exertions and blinded by the unlikely sun above Altrincham’s ground. They gave up an early goal, when Nicholson’s error allowed Lucas Weaver to drive home, and as a stodgy first half unfolded one wondered if they had the zest to come back off the ropes.

Callum Camps showed his quality with a terrific volleyed goal (Image: Martyn Haworth)

After Wednesday, we perhaps should not have wondered. Carlisle were unimpressive for much of the first half, Regan Linney trying but failing to find ways through against his old club, Altrincham useful through Weaver’s driving runs but not greatly dangerous.

Yet United grew at the end of the half, Linney almost supplying David Ajiboye, Josh Williams close to scoring and Whelan on the button with an excellent, controlled finish, after Ajiboye cut in and laid the ball across a bobbling surface.

The second half then saw a much more evident gap in quality. United, with Stephen Wearne on for the injured Jenks, were quicker, more aggressive in their intentions and eventually more ominous in their threat. Camps, in midfield, made some composed contributions and Linney, multiple times, found keeper Harry Isted immovable. One save from a creamed volley was terrific, other stops defiant.

Stephen Wearne celebrates with Micah Obiero after United's third goal (Image: Martyn Haworth)

It became a one-man barricade, the kind of performance that gives an under-pressure side possibilities. Camps, with a glorious volley, came up with something Isted finally couldn’t reach, but Carlisle then let Weaver in for an equaliser and the game was again narrower than United should have allowed it.

Once more, though, they responded with purpose. Elliot Embleton, back from the long sidelines, curled over a lovely free-kick whose finish, from Morgan Feeney, was ruled out for an infringement. United, through their increased dart and drive through Wearne and others, were soon the more favourable side again and their recently-found gumption came forward again when Nicholson sent a searching ball down the left and Obiero, on the pitch for two minutes, sent a defender for an Eccles cake before clipping the ball home.

By now there was no doubting United’s spirit and their ability to keep reviving themselves, not for a moment. Altrincham gave them a couple of minor late wobbles but when they earned a very last corner, and Isted abandoned his box for it, everything that happened next was of a piece with this regenerated Carlisle: a clearance, a carry by Galvin, Lowes’ arrival in support and a composed finish.

Morgan Feeney with Jonah Lowes after the teenager's late goal at Altrincham (Image: Martyn Haworth)

If that 1,000-strong away end hadn’t been there, there’s every chance Lowes might have continued running, clean out of the J.Davidson Stadium, down Moss Lane and somewhere towards the M61. How rapidly and memorably things can change. But this version of Carlisle we’d now like to stay very much the same.