Carlisle City produced an electric first-half performance, which set up their first away win of the season in the Northern League Division Two.
All the goals in their 5-2 win at Birtley came in a frantic first-half as they are fifth in the table just four points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
The Cumbrians had made two changes with Sam Atkinson and Jordan Palmer returning for the injured Keighran Kerr and unavailable Aaran Bradbury.
The home side were on a losing streak of three, and made wholesale changes from their last game, one being the return of goalkeeper Isaac Robinson, released from Carlisle United in the summer, and set for a loan move to City before the pandemic intervened.
Robinson had also played a game on loan in the truncated 2020/21 season for Workington Reds in the NPL West.
The home side won the first corner as Tanoh’s shot deflected wide and this was cleared, with City breaking up-field to create a great chance.
Holt was left in the clear and really should have scored, but Robinson saved with his legs.
In the 6th minute, Garrity’s cross won another home corner that City again safely dealt with. Home striker Barwick then blasted well over the top.
A foul on Atkinson in the 8th minute allowed Palmer to float in a dangerous free-kick which was headed well by Bowman but cleared close to the home line.
It had been an incredibly open start and an 11th-minute Young free-kick was cleared behind for another Birtley corner, which was punched away by Townsley.
It seemed almost inevitable there would be goals in this game and they arrived in an avalanche once Irving fired City ahead on 12 minutes, as his shot flew over Robinson and into the far corner.
However, the lead was to last barely two minutes as the City defence struggled to clear, and Barwick took advantage to fire past Townsley.
Incredibly, on 15 minutes, it was 2-1 to City as Holt headed in his first City goal, from Irving’s right-wing cross.
There was barely time to draw breath before, on 19 minutes, it was 2-2 as Townsley’s kick failed to make any distance, falling to Young who did not hesitate before smashing into the empty net.
The goals just kept flowing as City regained the lead on 22 minutes, making it 3-2 as skipper Simpson headed in from close range.
The Birtley defence really seemed in a generous mood as they fell apart on 27 minutes, leaving Palmer in perfect isolation to shoot in past Robinson via the far post, putting City 4-2 up, and this from a side who had scored only three times in four previous away games.
There was a slight lull at this stage but City could easily have added more, with Robinson making a couple of fine saves.
In the 36th minute City broke again as Simpson freed Irving, with Robinson again saving well for a corner. This right-wing flag kick from Palmer was to make the score 5-2 as Kirkup rose powerfully at the back post to head down past Robinson.
City seemed determined to keep up the pressure after the break as an excellent run from Irving took him past home defenders before his cross was cleared.
The home side did have their share of corners during the game, and Kirkup conceded another on 47 minutes but this led to nothing. On 49 minutes, Atkinson’s shot was saved by Robinson before Palmer blasted well over two minutes later.
Atkinson’s well-struck shot produced another fine save from Robinson, with the officials somehow missing the save, and awarding a goal-kick. It was still all City as Palmer ran dangerously into the box on 58 minutes, and his shot was cleared close to the line.
On 66 minutes, it should have been 6-2 as Irving ran clear, but his lob over Robinson was poorly executed, and cleared the bar.
Another home change saw Young replaced by Hill, and Irving had another chance in the 70th minute, which he fired wide.
As the game ticked into the last 10 minutes, Seggie fired two efforts well wide before an 84th-minute Barwick header was also off-target.
It was fitting that City ended the game on the offensive, winning two late corners, without adding to their impressive goal tally.
