Northampton 3-2 Carlisle: Dominic Calvert-Lewin brace boosts Cobblers

Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace as Northampton came from behind to beat Carlisle 3-2 at Sixfields.

The Cobblers started brightly with Joel Byrom and John-Joe O'Toole both going close, while the latter also tested Mark Gillespie with a 20-yard drive which the goalkeeper turned around the post.

Gillespie then denied Calvert-Lewin and Carlisle responded when former Cobbler Derek Asamoah burst into the box but fired wide from a tight angle.

Carlisle improved as the half progressed and Asamoah should have broken the deadlock when he fired wide from a good position.

However, the visitors were ahead in the 29th minute when Jason Kennedy released Alex Gilliead, who beat Adam Smith.

Marc Richards was denied by Gillespie but Smith kept Northampton in the game when he thwarted Asamoah after he raced clear.

The dangerous Asamoah also struck the woodwork before the Cobblers equalised in first-half stoppage-time when Calvert-Lewin beat Gillespie with a looping header from a Nicky Adams' corner for his fifth goal of the season.

And Northampton got their noses in front two minutes after the restart when Byrom set up Sam Hoskins on the edge of the box and his deflected effort beat Gillespie.

Adams had a shot blocked as did Danny Grainger but the hosts increased their lead in the 63rd minute when Calvert-Lewin grabbed his second goal of the night, volleying home from six yards after Carlisle failed to deal with another Adams' corner.

Tom Miller fired wide and it took a decent save from Smith to deny substitute Joe Thompson in the closing stages. Carlisle then reduced the arrears in stoppage-time when substitute Charlie Wyke converted Grainger's cross but the goal came too late.