Blyth Spartans 0 Carlisle Utd 3: Hallam Hope, Gary Liddle and a trialist were on target while Mike Jones made his first outing of pre-season for Carlisle United.

The Blues left it late to record their fourth consecutive victory against non-league opposition so far.

But Hope broke the deadlock on 80 minutes when he met a low cross from a trialist striker and fired high into the net.

Liddle doubled the lead moments later when he drilled a first-time attempt across the Blyth keeper.

And it was then three when the impressive sub Jamie Devitt played in a trialist midfielder who finished neatly.

Jones, meanwhile, played the second half having returned from an ankle injury.

Manager Keith Curle ran the rule over a trialist keeper, a left-back, two strikers and the goalscoring midfielder at Croft Park.

Blyth gave United plenty to think about in the first half, with winger Jarrett Rivers going close with a deflected shot.

Sean Reid also shot wide as Carlisle failed to create many clear-cut chances.

The introduction of five second-half subs then saw an improvement in Carlisle's attacking, Shaun Miller drawing a save from the home keeper after a fine ball from Devitt.

Blyth's defence in the second half included the former United pair of David Atkinson and Nathan Buddle, with another ex-Blues man Michael Liddle having started at left-back.

Mark Ellis denied Reid with a good block before Miller again went close for the Blues.

United then finally broke the deadlock through Hope, who had replaced Miller midway through the second half.

After Liddle and the trialist had quickly added further goals, Rivers could have pulled one back, but the winger failed to chip sub United keeper Morgan Bacon.

Not involved again for United were John O'Sullivan and Jason Kennedy, with the club yet to comment on why they have not figured in recent games.

Blyth Spartans: Trialist, Cartwright (Trialist 65), Liddle (Trialist 65), Mullen, Hutchinson (Atkinson 46), J Watson (Buddle 46), Rivers, McTiernan (I Watson 76), Maguire (Trialist 76), Reid, Dale. Not used: Hooks

United: Trialist (Bacon 71), T Miller (Devitt 46), Grainger (Trialist 62), Liddle, Parkes, Brisley (Ellis 46), Joyce (Trialist 62), Etuhu (Jones 46), Lambe (Trialist 46), Adams (Nabi 62), Trialist (S Miller 46, Hope 67)). Not used: Salkeld, Holt, Egan.