Carlisle City are up to sixth in the Northern League First Division after a 5-3 home victory last night against West Allotment Celtic.
It puts them in good heart for Saturday’s test against Heaton Stannington at Gillford Park with the visitors in eighth, only a point behind but with four games in hand.
Manager Jim Nichols said: “That’s obviously a big one in terms of finishing in the top five with both teams having ambitions to get there.
“But we are in good heart after last night. We played some really good stuff on what was quite a tricky surface in parts and the only disappointment for us was that we let them score two late goals which didn’t really reflect the way the game had gone.
“In our last game, a 1-0 defeat at Whitley Bay, we created chance after chance but couldn’t take any. This time we fashioned opportunities again but we took them.
“It was a bit like the Penrith game in that we scored twice in the first seven minutes and led 4-0 at half-time to put us well in control.
“It was 5-1 into the last few minutes and although they do have some dangerous attackers it was disappointing to concede goals in the 87th and 92st minutes.
“One of the pleasing features of the win was that our front three all scored, which is always good to see from a team.”
Rob McCartney helped himself to a double in the 4th and 7th minutes before Jordan Palmer added his brace after 26 and 37 minutes.
Cyril Giraud pulled on back from the penalty spot after 57 minutes before Callum Birdsall restored the four-goal advantage two minutes later.
The only downside for City was allowing Kyle Cockburn (87) and Mikel Thompson (90+1) to score late on for Celtic.
