Something had to give when Carlisle City hosted Newcastle University in a Northern League Division Two clash.
The University arrived with a very impressive 100 per cent away record while City were also looking to preserve their 100% home form.
In the end it was City still with their record intact as they emerged 4-1 winners. They introduced new signing Ryan Swailes on the bench, after his international clearance arrived.
City could have been ahead in the 3rd minute as Jordan Irving’s header was cleared off the line.
Apart from a couple of shots going wide at each end it was a very quiet opening spell, but then City came to life with two quick-fire goals.
The first was a very scrappy affair on 18 minutes as the University struggled to clear, and Irving forced the ball in from close range, for his first of the season.
Within two minutes, it was 2-0 as Ben Palmer glided into the box before finishing confidently across the keeper and into the far corner.
The visitors were very disappointing in these early stages, and it was 31 minutes before Kyle Townsley had anything to do, diving to his right to push away James Coates’ 20-yard shot.
Keighran Kerr had a chance on 41 minutes which was saved by the keeper’s feet and Irving went very close again with a header, as City dominated almost totally to go in 2-0 ahead at the break.
There is always a fear in these games that the second half can be different, and that the University could revive, but it never looked likely in this game.
Kerr’s shot was blocked on 52 minutes and Dan Kirkup was forced to clear for a corner a minute later.
In the 56th minute it was 3-0 as a neat move through midfield found Josh Simpson bursting into the box and he finished well for his first of the season.
There was then a debut in midfield for Swailes who quickly impressed with some tigerish tackling.
The University only threatened very spasmodically, and it was 4-0 after 71minutes as Irving added his second with a fine finish past the keeper.
If truth be told, the visitors hardly merited a consolation but it arrived on 76 minutes and it was a fine strike from Coates beating Townsley all the way.
Tom Romano then fired over from 30 yards but Irving had chances for his hat-trick with one saved on 85 minutes and another in the final minute but he couldn’t quite manage it.
