Three former Carlisle United frontmen hit the headlines with impressive scoring exploits this weekend.

Andy Cook, who came through the youth team ranks at Brunton Park, continued his superb start to the League Two season for Bradford City.

Two goals in the Bantams' 3-0 win over Stevenage on Saturday took his tally to 11 from 11 games this season.

According to the Yorkshire club, the 31-year-old has scored a goal every 67 minutes this campaign.

Bradford boss Mark Hughes has hailed the striker's form. Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, he said: "I’ve got a lot of time for Andy. He’s up there battling against teams that are really physical.

“A lot more challenges are going unpunished the way the game is being refereed now and that’s not helping good players.

“But he’s doing great. The comparison with me is only slight because I never used to score goals like Andy from two or three yards.

“That shows he’s a natural goal-scorer. I was never one of those so credit to him."

Another former United youth team star, Mark Beck, had an afternoon to remember in the FA Cup.

The striker scored a hat-trick for Darlington as they beat Southport 3-2 in the second qualifying round.

Beck, who joined Darlo this summer after leaving Harrogate Town, scored a penalty in the eighth minute before netting twice more after the break.

According to the Quakers, he is the first Darlington player to score a hat trick at Blackwell Meadows, the first to score a home hat trick in seven years and the first to score a hat trick in an FA Cup tie for 22 years.

It was also his first senior treble. "I've got a few braces before but I never got that hat-trick, so it's nice to get one," he told his club's website.

"I'm delighted to get the hat-trick but the main thing is getting through to the next round."

Another FA Cup hat-trick was claimed by ex-Blues frontman Lewis Alessandra.

He hit a treble for South Shields in their comfortable 5-0 win at Shildon.

It saw Kevin Phillips' side, who beat Workington Reds in the previous round, make further progress.