An early blitz by title-chasing Shildon contributed to a heavy defeat for Carlisle City in Northern League Division One.
By the 20th minute City were looking at a 3-0 deficit against the side lying second in the table.
By half-time it was 4-0 and although City did better in the second-half it was much too late to change the course of the game.
Manager Jim Nichols said: “It was a poor performance against a good side and we never recovered from the start we made.
“In actual fact we had the first real chance of the game but then conceding three early goals, and a fourth before half-time meant it was virtually all over.
“We did create one or two chances in the second-half but only took one and they scored two more late on.
“It’s important that we don’t just let the season fade away after we’d put ourselves into a good position.
“Hopefully we can put that right and get back to winning ways on Tuesday when we are at home to North Shields.”
City drop to seventh in the table and are among six clubs fighting for three play-off places with the top two Bishop Auckland and Shildon having the title race between them.
Leighton Harris (8), Billy Greulich-Smith (11, 36) and Joe Posthill (21 penalty) had given Shildon a 4-0 half-time lead.
Although Rob McCartney (65) pulled one back, Shildon had the last word with further goals from Alexander White (82) and Bradley Hird (83).
