Carlisle United moved into the automatic promotion places with a 5-1 demolition of county rivals Barrow.
It was a comfortable win in the end after a more even first-half when the only goal gave Carlisle the lead a minute before the break.
Barrow fans had heard before kick-off that the club had paid a record fee to bring Fleetwood forward Ged Garner to South Cumbria.
But that was small consolation at the end as the Bluebirds finished well beaten, shipping five goals for the second time this season.
They would claim the opening goal by Jon Mellish on 44 minutes looked offside but there were no excuses over the other four that sent Carlisle roaring into the top three.
If the Barrow terrace talk was of Ged Garner, the Carlisle fans were enjoying the return of Joe Garner who netted his first goal in his fourth spell with the club five minutes after the re=start.
Those two quick goals wither side of he interval changed the complexion of the game and it was mainly a stroll for Paul Simpson’s in-form side after that.
Mellish, who had not scored since September, netted his second of the night after 67 minutes as Barrow headed for their third game in a row without a win which has
Omari Patrick made it 4-0 after 72 before Barrow did pull one back six minutes from time but they needed a helping hand as Ben Barclay headed into his own net.
Leading marksman Kristian Dennis came off the bench and added to his season’s tally when he scored from the penalty spot in the last minute after ex-Carlisle keeper Paul Farman had tripped Crystal Palace loanee John Kymani-Gordon.
Carlisle will now look to consolidate their position in third place when they host Harrogate Town on Saturday while Barrow face a long trip to reviving Colchester.
