Carlisle United have stormed into the League Two play off reckoning with a fan-pleasing run of four straight wins. Their game against struggling Grimsby was one of the few to beat the weather and they took full advantage by snatching a 2-0 win.

As recently as Valentine’s Day, a 2-1 defeat at Notts County saw the Cumbrians slide to eleven points outside the play-off picture. At that point, all hope of a late run seemed to be gone, but a super run has resulted in a rise to within touching distance of the leading seven teams.

Now, just three points stand between them and Swindon Town in seventh, although with games in hand for Lincoln and Crawley, they could find themselves back in eleventh. However, that would still be a nice position to hold going into the business end of the season.

The recent run of results has certainly helped, but it is worth noting that the wins have all come against sides struggling at the bottom of the table. Indeed, you have to go back to Boxing Day to find the last time Carlisle beat a side above them in the league, registering a 3-1 festive win against Accrington Stanley.

Chesterfield (2-0), Barnet (3-1), Yeovil (1-0) and Grimsby have all fallen foul of Keith Curle’s men recently, couple with January wins against Crewe (1-0) and Forest Green (1-0). However, that favourable run looks to be coming to an end and there will be much interest in how Carlisle cope with facing sides in good form and fighting for promotion.

Next up is a long haul down to Exeter City, a team firmly ensconced in the play-off race. A week later, promotion hopefuls Crawley visit Brunton Park looking to further their own play-off ambitions. Exactly how suited Carlisle United are to a play off assault will be much clearer after those two games. The time of reckoning is getting closer, are Carlisle United genuine promotion candidates, or just the benefactors of a favourable run of games?

The form of Hallam Hope and Richard Bennett will also be crucial. Hope has bagged two in two now, but with just eleven for the season he was due a couple of goals. Bennett, a summer capture from Barrow, has struggled to adjust to League Two football but he too managed a strike recently, away at Barnet. It will be interesting to see if the resurgent Cumbrians have what it takes to sneak into the promotion frame without anybody having paid them serious attention.