Goalkeepers Tomas Holy and Lee Burge ensured promotion-chasing Carlisle and Northampton drew 0-0 in League Two’s match of the day.
Holy denied top scorer Sam Hoskins and Will Hondermarck – the Cobblers’ Easter Monday match-winner against Gillingham – early in the second half.
Then it was Burge’s turn to come to his team’s rescue, keeping out back-to-back efforts by Carlisle’s own leading scorer Kristian Dennis.
Carlisle claimed the forward’s second effort had crossed the line before Burge grabbed the ball but referee Rebecca Welch was unmoved by the appeals.
The Cumbrians have now failed to score in six of their last seven games, a run which has also brought four stalemates.
Despite the drought, Paul Simpson’s side remain in the hunt for a top-three finish, sitting fifth in a congested top end of the table.
Jon Brady’s visitors shrugged off the absence of 12 injured players to remain second behind champions-elect Leyton Orient.
They have lost just one of their last 11 games as they look to forget last season’s final-day heartbreak and subsequent failed play-off challenge.
