Carlisle City moved to within three points of a Northern League Two play-off place, with four games in hand when they won 4-0 at Willington.
It was the first of a double-header between the two sides, with another clash in Carlisle on Tuesday night.
Virtually from the kick-off, City could have taken the lead but Atkinson’s effort was easily saved by Robinson..
In the ninth minute, Palmer lobbed over from a good position and Kirkup was forced to concede Willington’s first corner two minutes later but this was easily cleared. Atkinson then saw another shot saved by Robinson before Simpson fired well over.
It was end-to-end as Sherratt almost latched onto a neat through ball and a City corner in the 18th minute saw Kerr’s header saved by Robinson.
The same City player then saw his shot saved on 20 minutes but the home side responded with a header from Harland that was saved by Townsley.
On 29 minutes, Palmer’s cross was headed wide by Atkinson and then the same two players combined again only for Palmer to see his shot saved by Robinson.
It was not all one-way traffic as Sherratt was only just wide in the 32nd minute while City wasted a good chance two minutes later when Kerr broke clear but shot weakly.
Palmer’s deflected cross in the 36th minute was to lead to the first goal. Taking the corner himself, Palmer’s accurate delivery found Kirkup at the back post and his powerful header beat Robinson for his ninth goal of the season.
The home side did respond with a free-kick on target from Storey that was saved by Townsley just before half-time.
A half-time hail storm quickly passed and City won a quick corner that was taken by Palmer but drifted out beyond the far post.
A quick throw by Atkinson to Holt won City another corner on 57 minutes and this was to lead to the second goal. Palmer’s kick was partially cleared but returned well by Bowman, and Atkinson was at the back post for an easy finish, for his 10th of the season.
On the hour, it became 3-0 as Palmerran clear to confidently beat Robinson for goal number 31 of a productive season.
Little had been seen of Willington in this half but Townsley did save from Storey on 78 minutes, just before Irving added City’s fourth, calmly beating Robinson from eight yards.
