Carlisle City slipped to their first defeat in 12 games when they went down 2-0 at Chester-le-Street Town.
It was particularly disappointing as City had been clear 5-1 winners a week earlier in the FA Vase.
City made just the one change with Longcake dropping out and Palmer coming in, whilst the home side showed five changes from last Saturday, including goalkeeper Wilson and his selection was to prove important.
City won the first corner and this brought a reasonable chance for Kirkup but his header was saved by Wilson. The bright start continued as Palmer found Irving but his shot flashed wide.
Kirkup conceded a corner in the sixth minute but this was cleared by Atkinson and two further home corners were safely dealt with, but there were already signs of a strong Town showing as City struggled to impose their authority.
Dixon headed wide from another Town corner but City broke on 13 minutes with Atkinson finding Kerr on the right, and his shot was saved well by Wilson.
City fell behind on 19 minutes as Town moved well through midfield before the attack was finished by Dixon, firing past Murray from 18 yards.
Things got worse on 22 minutes as another well-worked home move was finished confidently by Ward.
It took some considerable time for City to recover from this setback and the Town confidence was now clear to see.
The visitors really struggled to create anything of note for much of the remainder of the half, although Atkinson’s long throw in the 39th minute was flicked wide by Irving.
It was almost half-time when Wilson made what could have been a crucial save, as he got down to tip away Kerr’s goalbound effort.
City boss Jim Nichols made a change at half-time as Kelly replaced Studholme and his side did look rather more sprightly in this half.
Home keeper Wilson made another crucial save on 53 minutes as Atkinson’s well-struck shot looked bound for the top corner before an agile leap and fingertip save pushed the ball wide.
In the 58th minute, City really should have pulled a goal back as they somehow managed not to convert as the loose ball dropped only yards from the Town goal.
Kirkup was increasingly spending more time in attack and he crunched into home keeper Wilson on 62 minutes and was shown a yellow card.
In the 75th minute, City again conspired to somehow miss with the goal gaping, as Kirkup hit the bar from only inches out, with Wilson gratefully grasping the loose ball.
A foul on Irving just outside the home box gave City a free-kick opportunity but the delivery was hit far too hard.
Kirkup’s frustration then possibly overflowed on 84 minutes as a badly mistimed lunge on Collins resulted in a second yellow card and City reduced to ten men.
City’s discipline was receding at this stage as Kelly was also cautioned for a foul.
There was still time for another fine chance to go begging in the 88th minute as Irving ran clear but fired woefully over the bar. This possibly summed up City’s afternoon.
