Carlisle City were convincing 5-0 winners at home to Esh Winning in Division Two of the Northern League.
The two sides had not met in the league this season, but City had been 4-1 winners in the FA Vase in September.
A foul on Simpson in the 7th minute gave Palmer a free-kick opportunity from 25 yards but his shot was blocked, with Seggie’s follow-up attempt then saved by Hannant.
Kerr then delivered a good cross into the visitors’ box but this was scrambled away, and Atkinson shot weakly wide on nine minutes.
It was not all one-way traffic as Johnson’s shot flew narrowly wide and the end-to-end action continued as Harland fired just wide of the City goal.
After Bowman shot into the side netting the best early chance came in the 19th minute as Atkinson’s pass freed Palmer but his angled shot just cleared the crossbar.
City came even closer on 23 minutes as Kelly ran clear with his shot beating Hannant but bouncing back off the far post, with Atkinson not quite in position for the rebound.
City went ahead in the 31st minute after a foul on Holt saw Simpson’s free-kick headed down by Kirkup and finished at close range by Palmer for his 27th goal of the season.
Play was then held up for 15 minutes as paramedics arrived to attend to a facial injury to pone of the Esh Winning players.
As soon as the game resumed, Holt added a second for City as he beat Hannant from six yards to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Esh Winning came out on the front foot after the break, with Murray having to claim Soakell’s cross and then Wilkinson fired over from just outside the City area.
Palmer won City’s first corner of the second period after 58 minutes and his kick was to lead to City’s third goal as the cross was headed in neatly by Holt for his second of the game.
Esh were still not giving up as Murray pushed aside a shot from Johnson, and the City keeper then came out well to block Harland’s run.
However, on 69 minutes it was 4-0 as Kelly cut inside from the left and curled a fine shot past Hannant for the goal of the game.
It was to Esh’s credit that they kept coming forward and Murray again was stretched to tip away an effort from Harland.
Kerr was close to a fifth as his shot was cleared just short of the goal-line but the home side continued to press.
Substitute Harry Atkinson’s shot was deflected for a corner and Sam Atkinson added the last goal of the game as he turned the ball past Hannant from close range.
