Carlisle City continued their excellent run of form with an outstanding 3-0 win at Newcastle Benfield.
Jim Nichols’ men now lie fifth in the Northern League First Division ahead of a massive home game on Saturday against third placed Shildon who are two points better-off from a game less.
Nichols said: “Nobody could recall ever getting a result there so it was a special one for the club as it’s a very tough place to go and win.
“They actually came out of the traps really flying and we had to concentrate on staying in the game for the first ten minutes. But after that we started to take the game to them and I think that surprised them.
“We got a goal just before half-time and it was thoroughly deserved. It was also a super goal from Sam Atkinson who latched onto a clearance 25 yards out and just volleyed it back into the top corner.
“We have been working hard on set pieces in recent weeks and early in the second-half we scored from one. Jack Dickinson got the finish and that was very satisfying to see training ground work pay off.
“I think they were frustrated that they were getting nowhere with us and they had a man sent off for dissent after 85 minutes and another for verbals at the start of time added on.
“The fact that Jordan Palmer got a third goal for us at the end was the icing on the cake and was a fair reflection on how the game had gone.
“We will have a couple of absentees next week but lads have been coming in and doing a job for us all season so I expect that will happen again on Saturday.”
City have only lost the one Northern League game so far and have recorded four wins and three draws as they sit three points behind surprise leaders Birtley Town.
