By Ross Gregory
Whickham made it back-to-back wins with a 3-0 success over Carlisle City at the First Mortgage Glebe on Tuesday night.
A stunning second-half performance, inspired by Mason Hardy, saw the Lang Jacks follow up the hard-fought victory over Seaham at the weekend with a more comfortable three points.
Hardy grabbed a brace and Cam Brewis marked his return from holiday with the third, but just as pleasing for manager Lee Haldane was a second clean sheet in four days.
The home side had to withstand a bit of pressure in the first period, however. Carlisle, kicking down the slope, had the majority of the play and went close on a couple of occasions.
Whickham dug in, but suffered an early blow when the hero of Seaham, Fin Neary, fractured his wrist in a fal and was replaced by Nathan Stephenson.
Hardy looked a threat down the right and twice got in behind the full back, but was unable to make the most of his opportunities.
However, he stunned Carlisle three after the break with a sensational goal, cutting in and rifling a rasping drive into the top corner.
The forward then doubled the advantage seven minutes later, slotting into the corner from inside the box with a nice finish. That all but put the game to bed for Whickham, whose confidence returned and the last half an hour was played almost exclusively in the Carlisle half.
Brewis put the icing on the cake after a great team move which started from the back, and went through the midfield before the attacker swapped passes inside the box and slotted underneath the goalkeeper.
Whickham return to action on Saturday with a trip to league leaders Boro Rangers.
Whickham: Wilkinson, Munro, Lynn (Gray), Peareth, Nelson, Agnew, Geliher, Moan (Brewis), Lennox, Neary (Stephenson), Hardy.
Unused subs: Croft, Marriott.
Man of the Match: Mason Hardy
