Carlisle City returned to action after a weather enforced three-week break and scored a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Birtley.
Jordan Holt scored what proved to be the winner on 20 minutes and City held on to their narrow advantage to remain 11th in Northern League Two, but with up to eight games in hand on the sides above.
The early stages of the game were punctuated by free-kick stoppages as neither side found any rhythm. It was the ninth minute before City’s first attempt when Palmer’s shot was deflected wide for a fruitless corner.
Birtley’s ex-Carlisle United youth keeper Robinson produced a fine save to deny Simpson at close range in the 13th minute and, three minutes later, Holt’s shot deflected for another City corner, which again was easily cleared.
Robinson was proving a thorn in City’s side as he produced a fine double save on 18 minutes to deny first Palmer and then Atkinson. However, he was beaten soon after when Holt controlled his volley well to beat the keeper low to his left, to give the home side the lead.
City could have added a second on 28 minutes as a fine cross from Holt was fired over by Atkinson from 10 yards. Then a City free-kick found Atkinson in space but his goal was disallowed for offside.
Birtley had threatened little in this half but a 37th-minute free-kick was headed over by Harker.
At the other end a foul just outside the Birtley area gave City a promising opportunity but Atkinson’s free-kick was blocked, and Kirkup fired the rebound over.
Late in the half Holt found Kerr who burst past the onrushing Robinson but ran the ball out of play.
Half-time leads have been rare for City in recent months and the early stages of the second period proved to be uncomfortable.
Olsen headed away an early free-kick and Tanoh wasted a chance on 49 minutes as he scuffed his shot.
City’s first attempt in the second period went close as Kerr’s shot was only inches wide.
On 57 minutes, Tanoh fired well off-target but a good run from Barwick in the next minute forced Murray into a good save at the expense of a corner, which was headed clear by Atkinson.
A Birtley corner in the 65th minute was flicked wide by Barwick and then, at the other end, Kelly’s shot was pushed away by Robinson.
A foul by Kelly on Bolton in the 74th minute brought a free kick in a dangerous position, but the delivery was poor and easily cleared before the closing stages brought few chances for either side.
