Carlisle City hit a record 16-1 home win over struggling Durham City last night, but there was more sympathy than elation afterwards.
Undoubtedly, games like this do nothing for the credibility of football at this level or indeed for the EBAC Northern League.
It remains to be seen whether this score-line will even feature in the league records come the end of the season, as it will take tremendous courage for Durham to keep
Durham had lost all nine away games, conceding an average of six goals per game so the omens for them were not good before the start, and their starting line-up included four teenagers.
It could not have started worse for the visitors as they were behind in the first minute as Kirkup’s header was finished off by Irving at close range.
The lead was doubled in the fifth minute as Frampton did well to save Irving’s shot but Palmer was on hand to fire in the rebound.
This action was pretty much repeated on nine minutes as Frampton was unlucky to see Palmer finish off another rebound. An incredible first ten minutes then saw a fourth City goal as Kerr’s cross was swept in by Irving.
It seemed at this stage that every shot was turning into a goal but keeper Frampton made numerous fine saves during the evening.
In the 20th minute, Palmer notched a quick-fire hat-trick with a well-taken goal after beating the offside trap.
The hat-tricks were then doubled in the 24th minute as Irving headed in at the back post to make it 6-0, with an assist again from Kirkup.
. Irving added his fourth from the penalty spot on 33 minutes. He then quickly added his fifth on the night, on 37 minutes, as he fired into the bottom corner, past a helpless Frampton and it was 8-0 at the break.
There was some understandable discussion at the break amongst spectators as to whether the visitors would even emerge again from the dressing rooms, but they did so to their great credit.
On 51 minutes, it was 9-0 as Palmer added his fourth of the night, scoring from very close range after Dixon ran and crossed well.
Dixon’s pacy running in the second half added further woes for the Durham defence as he went on to create most of the goals in this period.
In the 56th minute however, Clarke pulled a goal back for Durham to make it 9-1, only their third goal scored on their travels this season.
Kerr had a goal chalked off for offside before, in the 58th minute, he finally fired past Frampton and this time there was no flag.
On the hour Palmer added his fifth. Dixon then won a penalty on 62 minutes, taken by Kerr, but his over-hit shot rattled the windows behind the goal.
The impressive Dixon then won a corner on 67 minutes, and this led to Palmer tapping in his sixth.
Kerr quickly redeemed himself for the penalty miss as he added his second on 69 minutes and the rout continued with Palmer adding his seventh on 71 minutes.
In the 80th minute, the unlucky Mpwilu turned into his own net from Dixon’s cross and it was 15-1.
Johnstone’s corner was headed wide by Kirkup before the scoring was rounded off on 88 minutes as Dixon again created, with Johnstone this time finishing off.
