Kristian Dennis scored twice as Carlisle moved within touching distance of League Two’s promotion places with a 3-1 win over struggling Hartlepool.
Paul Simpson’s side got off to a flying start when Morgan Feeney opened the scoring after six minutes at Brunton Park.
Striker Dennis scored a fourth game in a row to take his 16th and 17th goals of a successful campaign, either side of Josh Umerah’s cool finish for the visitors, to take the Cumbrians one point behind third-placed Northampton.
Pools remained two points clear at the top as they suffered their third defeat in five games.
Goalkeeper Ben Killip headed Dennis into the path of Feeney to net the opener.
Dennis almost made it two when his shot hit Killip and then the post.
He made no mistake as he doubled his tally in the 26th minute when he found the bottom corner.
The lead was quickly reduced as Umerah scored his 13th goal of the season with a cool finish two minutes later.
Killip did well to point out Callum Guy’s long range strike just after the hour mark.
Dennis restored the two goal cushion when he fired past Owen Moxon in the 66th minute.
Rollin Menayese was sent off in stoppage time for the visitors.
