Carlisle came unstuck at Brunton Park last night, enduring a 4-2 defeat by league leaders Chesterfield.
The Cumbrians had no answer to man-of-the-match Ryan Williams who orchestrated virtually everything the Spireites produced.
Manager Ian Atkins said: " I was disappointed with the performance. I know we were playing a very good side but too many heads went to the floor once we went behind. We failed to keep our shape when we started to chase the game and played into their hands. We are still a million miles away from the likes of Chesterfield but you have to manage with what you have got and make the best of it."
The Spireites took just seven minutes to show why they are top of the Third Division. Julian Darby conceded a corner to Ryan Williams who provided the cross for Marcus Ebdon to drive into the bottom corner through a crowded penalty area.
On 22 minutes, Luke Beckett narrowly headed over Sean Parrish's cross. Chesterfield's total dominance brought another goal on 29 minutes when Richard Prokas lost the ball on the edge of the box to Ryan Williams who played Beckett in to cross into the box for Roger Willis to power home.
The nightmare continued nine minutes later when Williams picked up the ball on the edge of the box to curl a lovely shot into the top right hand corner of Luke Weaver's net.
The Cumbrians gave themselves a life line in first half injury time when substitute David Lee's free kick was headed home by Ian Stevens.
The Spireites were content to sit back on their lead after the start of the second half and there was little action until the 61st minute when Lee's cross was headed narrowly wide by Stevens. Seven minutes later Stevens again went close when his volley shaved the bar.
Former Cumbrian target Luke Beckett should have extended the visitor's lead but scorned chances in at 70 and 73 minutes.
The fourth goal eventually came when a Steve Payne shot was parried out by Weaver straight to Willis who fired home his second goal.
However, the Cumbrians had the final word when Carl Heggs thundered an 84th minute 25 yard left foot shot into the top left hand corner of the net.
Ian Atkins now has the difficult job of picking up his players before the long journey to Plymouth on Saturday.
Mike Corry
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