Carlisle United got back to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Gateshead at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Elliot Embleton started off the scoring in the first half before Regan Linney and Luke Armstrong’s second-half strikes clinched the three points.
Mark Hughes made two changes from the Blues’ 2-0 defeat at Boreham Wood, with Embleton and Jordan Jones coming in for Stephen Wearne and Georgie Kelly.
Linney looked to spark the United into life when he flashed a shot from 25 yards past Tiernan Brooks’ right upright.
The attacker thought he had given the Blues a 20th-minute lead, receiving a deft through ball from Embleton and slotting past Brooks, but he was adjudged to be offside.
Kain Adom was proving to be a livewire for the Heed, and he showed a burst of speed to jink past Jack Ellis but dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box.
Embleton gave the Blues the lead in the 36th minute, pressing high and stealing the ball from Ibrahim Bakare outside the hosts’ box and calmly caressing a left-footed shot past Brooks.
United nearly had a second just minutes later when Harvey Macadam’s deep cross from the left flank found Aaron Hayden in acres of space, but Brooks managed to turn his header wide.
The Blues continued to threaten the Heed goal with Macadam firing an effort narrowly over the bar before Jones poked Josh Williams’ cutback past the right post.
Alun Armstrong’s side attempted to respond with Josh Home bursting forwards and finding Kian Pennant, but his left-footed shot flew over the bar before Adam shot straight at Breeze from outside the penalty area as the half came to an end.
HALF-TIME: Gateshead 0-1 Carlisle United
Williams was allowed to stretch his legs on the right, receiving the ball on the right and flying forwards before unleashing a ferocious shot which was parried wide by Brooks.
Linney won a penalty for United in the 70th minute, slaloming his way into the box before having his legs swept away by Pennant as he looked to shoot.
It was the Blues’ number ten who stepped up and sent Brooks the wrong way to extend the lead.
The Heed tried to get themselves back into the game with Pennant finding Kyle Hurst, who saw his shot hammer down off the bar but was adjudged not to be over the line.
Morgan Feeney came close to extending the lead when he met Linney’s corner, but the header floated over the bar.
United had a third in the 88th minute when Callum Whelan cut inside and unleashed a shot which Brooks parried into Armstrong to tap home and secure the victory.
FULL-TIME: Gateshead 0-3 Carlisle United
Teams:
Gateshead: Brooks, Elliott-Wheeler, Richardson, Bakare, Ferguson, Newton (Flint 67), Home, Edwards (Nouble 67), Chapman (Hurst 32), Adom, Pennant
Not used: Butterfield, Leech, Melbourne
Carlisle United: Breeze, Ellis (Mugabi 86), Feeney, Hayden, Harper, Macadam, Gilliead, Embleton (Whelan 75), Jones (Armstrong 59), Williams, Linney
Not used: Ajiboye, Kelly, Wearne, Lewis
Goals:
Gateshead – N/A
Carlisle United – (Embleton 36) (Linney 71) (Armstrong 88)
Yellow cards:
Gateshead – N/A
Carlisle United – N/A
Red cards:
Gateshead– N/A
Carlisle United – N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Richard Aspinall
Assistant Referee 1 - Steven Lawson
Assistant Referee 2 - Adam Burgess
Fourth Official - Stephen Rushworth
Attendance:
4,492 (3,500 away)
