Just one League One game survived this weekend - with promotion-chasing Portsmouth accounting for Northampton Town.

Pompey went back to the top of the table with a 3-0 win at the Sixfields Stadium.

Goals from Sean Raggett and Paddy Lane (two) took John Mousinho's side back to the summit.

Jon Brady's Cobblers, meanwhile, remain 13th. Northampton are Carlisle's next home opponents when they visit Brunton Park on December 16.

Many of United's League One rivals, meanwhile, were in FA Cup second round action, while a number of ex-Blues were also in the thick of things.

It was a weekend to remember for Carlisle-born Ryan Bowman as the ex-United youth striker hit a hat-trick for Shrewsbury Town.

Bowman scored in the first, 49th and 56th minutes to send the Shrews to a 3-2 win at Notts County in the cup.

Shrews boss Matt Taylor said of 32-year-old Bowman: “Ryan can do that. He has been the ultimate professional. He is vice-captain of the football club.  

“He has not played as much football lately as he would have liked. So the challenge for him was always going to be when he got the opportunity to get back into the team and get a regular run of games, could he put the ball in the back of the net?  

“Well, you have seen the answer to that question. He took his goals really well."

There was a goal for ex-United man Omari Patrick as he came off the bench to score Sutton United's third as the League Two side overcame Horsham 3-0.

There is no longer any Cumbrian club in the FA Cup after Barrow went down to a shock 2-1 defeat at Maidstone United.

But Carlisle still have an interest in the competition through their loan midfielder Jayden Harris, who takes on Reading on Sunday with Eastleigh.

United's other loan players, Max Kilsby and Kai Nugent, were out of action with Annan Athletic's Scottish League One trip to Alloa Athletic falling victim to the weather.

In the National League, meanwhile, there was a goal from ex-Carlisle man Olufela Olomola, who hit Bromley's winner in their 1-0 victory over Rochdale.

In National League South, a Tristan Abrahams penalty featured in Welling United's 4-2 defeat at Weston-super-Mare.

The Premier League, meanwhile, saw a landmark moment in the career of goalkeeper James Trafford.

The young Cumbrian kept his first clean sheet in the top-flight as Burnley thrashed Sheffield United 5-0.

It was also another good day for Jarrad Branthwaite as the Cumbrian defender helped Everton to a clean sheet in their 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.