Carlisle City produced their bet display of the season to beat Blyth Town 2-0 and make progress in the FA Vase.
City have now reached the third round for the second year in a row and are looking for a kind home draw tomorrow.
Dan Kirkup’s team has been sliding down the Northern League Division One table with some poor performances of late, but this was more like it.
From 1 to 11, and adding those who came on from the bench, this was a team that was at it from the start and deserved to beat a side lying second in the table.
City had already beaten Blyth at Gillford Park in the League but on their own admission needed a huge slice of luck to get the points.
Nothing could be more different this time as the hosts were the dominant side throughout, solid in defence, creative in midfield and a threat going forward.
Kirkup had a special word for two goal centre-forward Callum Birdsall whom the manager said he’d never seen play better, thriving on good service into the box.
Birdsall scored both goals – edging City ahead on 42 minutes and grabbing the all-important second on 54 minutes.
To hear what Dan Kirkup thought of the win you can listen below:
