Carlisle United 2 Bromley 1: Goals from Stephen Wearne and Callum Wearne earned Carlisle a valuable win against Bromley at Brunton Park.
The Blues cut the survival gap to seven points after the recalled duo scored either side of a Harry McKirdy goal.
United, who also missed a penalty through Kadeem Harris, held on to secure Mark Hughes' first home win and boost their survival chances with nine games to go.
In front of a 6,515 crowd, Wearne fired them in front on 13 minutes amid a bright Carlisle start before McKirdy put the visitors level against his former club when he went through to lob Gabe Breeze.
Whelan, though, drilled United back in front soon after Harris had hit the post with a spot-kick early in the second half.
Both sides had further chances, Jordan Jones hitting the bar before Whelan's winner, while Cameron Harper cleared a Bromley shot off the line and Michael Cheek missed a great chance in the final seconds.
The result, coupled with third-bottom Tranmere Rovers' draw at Fleetwood Town, saw Carlisle shave two points off their survival gap ahead of Tuesday night's game in hand against MK Dons at Brunton Park.
United boss Hughes made two changes to the XI that had started against AFC Wimbledon the previous weekend, with Whelan and Wearne both coming into the side, the latter for his first start in over a month.
They replaced Callum Guy and Joe Bevan, who dropped to the bench, while Jack Ellis and Sean Fusire returned to the 18 and Aaron Hayden missed out.
Bromley boss Andy Woodman handed a start to former United forward McKirdy as well as Brooklyn Ilunga, as they replaced Kamarl Grant and Cameron Congreve, the latter away on Wales Under-21 duty.
United survived an early Bromley chance when a Corey Whitely free-kick found Cheek, but the top scorer headed tamely wide.
Carlisle then stepped things up and did some positive work down the right, as they broke from a Bromley corner and Harris got the better of McKirdy before his deep cross found Harper, who bobbled a shot on target but Grant Smith saved.
United continued to test Bromley and on 13 minutes got the opening goal.
Again it came from some good endeavour down the right, Archie Davies' cross collected by Matt Dennis at the front of the box before Wearne received it, stepping right to create space before curling an impressive low shot into the bottom right corner.
It was his first goal for United - and the first time the Blues had led at home in 2025.
And it was followed by more Carlisle enterprise in their most positive spell at Brunton Park for some time.
Harris should have made it 2-0 just two minutes later, when fed by Dennis on the break, but his finish from the right came back off the post.
Terell Thomas shot wide after a free-kick, before Harris tested Smith. Sam Lavelle put a free header over the bar from Harper's corner, and Dennis then drew a diving save from Smith.
Thomas then found Harris with an impressive diagonal ball but nobody gambled on Harris's cross.
United looked in command and the fans were responding accordingly...but then Bromley hit back.
Harry McKirdy reacts after being booked following his goal celebrations (Image: Ben Holmes)
And inevitably it was McKirdy with the goal, the winger running beyond a square United defence onto a ball from the right and getting there before the onrushing Breeze.
After deftly lobbing the ball into the net, McKirdy celebrated in front of the Warwick Road End and eventually earned a booking for his antics from ref Bobby Madley.
Dennis was unable to get over a header as Carlisle tried to respond, but United had now lost some of their earlier confidence, and Deji Elerewe had a headed chance for the visitors as the Blues conceded free-kicks.
Dennis' quick feet later got him away from two men but Bromley got back to recover as the pass to Wearne was short, and Jones then forced a diving stop from Smith with a powerful attempt from 20 yards.
Things were very much in the balance by the halfway point, before Carlisle wasted a golden chance to regain the lead early in the second half.
Madley pointed to the spot when Webster handled Dennis's goalbound header from Jones' cross.
It was United's first penalty since last September, and Harris stepped up to take it - but his low spot-kick hit the left hand post.
McKirdy then hit the side-netting as he ghosted in from the Bromley right.
United then came inches from regaining their lead when Jones beat his man before curling a shot against the crossbar - and when Harris looked set to nod the rebound home, Smith denied him with a superb save.
But from the corner, Carlisle then did strike, Whelan receiving it outside the box before carrying it forward then shooting low, his attempt taking a deflection as it flew past Smith.
Callum Whelan (No43) is congratulated after scoring the winner (Image: Ben Holmes)
Brunton Park erupted - and then cheered again when McKirdy's number went up, the Bromley scorer receiving heavy stick as he left the pitch and McKirdy responding to the Paddock as he went down the tunnel, replaced by Danny Imray.
Before that, Cheek had been denied at the near post by Breeze, and then Lavelle was alert to deny Bromley after Cheek won a high ball in the Blues box.
At the other end, Jude Arthurs missed a free header from Adam Mayor's free-kick, before Carlisle broke and Dennis tested Smith.
A coming together between Vela and Mayor, after a strong United challenge, saw both players booked, before Hughes replaced Vela with Guy.
United nearly allowed Bromley back into it when Kabamba went through to shoot, the Blues failing to react to the ricochet as Arthurs then pounced...but he shot over the bar.
And seconds later the Blues came apart again but after Cheek went through and sent it left to Kabamba, the sub's goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Harper.
Carlisle could then have killed it when Davies ambushed Webster but Wearne's resulting shot spun wide.
United, with Georgie Kelly on for the closing stages, managed to deny Bromley further opportunities as the game entered seven added minutes.
Whitely fired high over the bar in the dying moments for Bromley, and then the visitors almost snatched a point at the death when Imray beat Harper and crossed for Cheek, but his half-volley went over the bar.
That was the last of the action, and the full-time whistle was greeted with a huge roar as Hughes pumped his arms in front of the Paddock and the team received a loud send-off.
There also appeared to be an incident in the tunnel as the teams left the pitch, with players and coaches involved and some Bromley players also responding to the taunts of Blues fans in the Paddock.
United: Breeze, Davies, Harper, Lavelle, Thomas, Vela (Guy 70), Whelan, Jones, Harris, Wearne (Bevan 90), Dennis (Kelly 81). Not used: Lewis, Ellis, Embleton, Fusire.
Goals: Wearne 13, Whelan 53
Booked: Harper, Vela, Bevan.
Bromley: Smith, Elerewe, Charles (Kabamba 66), Webster, Mayor, Arthurs, Ilunga (Ifill 79), Thompson, Whitely, McKirdy (Imray 57), Cheek. Not used: Long, Sowunmi, Imray, Otutayo, Paul-Lavaly.
Goal: McKirdy 28.
Booked: McKirdy, Mayor.
Ref: Robert Madley.
Crowd: 6,515 (208 Bromley fans).
