Three first-half goals helped League One Blackpool beat National League high-flyers Carlisle 4-1 and reach the third round of the FA Cup.

Strikes from Tom Bloxham, Ashley Fletcher and a fine curling effort by Scott Banks put Ian Evatt's side in control before the break.

The Cumbrians briefly threatened a comeback in the second half following Luke Armstrong's finish, only for Fletcher to add another shortly after.

A seventh third round appearance in eight seasons awaits the Tangerines, who defeated another non-league outfit - Scunthorpe United - at home in round one.

It had been nearly two years to the day since this fixture was played out as a League One contest at Bloomfield Road, and it finished with a similar result – a three-goal cushion for the hosts.

The respective league campaigns of these so far this season would have given the 3,000 visiting fans from Carlisle hope of an upset at kick-off, but save for an energetic first 10 minutes from Mark Hughes' side, Blackpool never looked like being upstaged by their now non-league opponents, ranked 28 places lower at the start of the weekend.

Tangerines keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to be alert to turn behind an early Chris Conn-Clarke effort, and the visitors would force a series of corners to keep the hosts on their toes in the opening minutes.

The deadlock was broken at the other end when Banks' strike was well saved by Harry Lewis, only for the ball to fall at the feet of Blackpool's top scorer Fletcher, who fired home from eight yards out.

Peacock-Farrell was called into action again to deny Conn-Clarke moments later, before two goals in three minutes before the break took the wind out of the visitors' sails.

First, a strong run and deft through ball from Emil Hansson set up to Fletcher to fire home into the roof of the net, before Banks cut in from the wing and curled a wonderful left-footed effort into the far right-hand corner to put the hosts further in command.

Hughes – who was looking to guide a team into the third round from round one for the first time in his managerial career – almost saw his side get on the scoresheet immediately after half-time, but Aaron Hayden was unable to find the back of the net from close range.

Forward Armstrong did reduce the deficit a few minutes later though, neatly turning home a cross from the right with the ball slightly behind him.

David Ajiboye then tested Peacock-Farrell as the Cumbrians briefly looked to make the most of their momentum as the clocked ticked towards the hour mark.

But any hopes of a remarkable comeback were quickly quashed when Fletcher – who scored Blackpool's winner in the previous round against Scunthorpe – turned home from close range for his 10th goal of the campaign.

Blackpool Boss Ian Evatt told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We had to manage the environment of having to be in our own stadium and having our supporters outnumbered. We have seen moments and flickers of what we can do in the last few weeks and saw more of that today.

"We spoke about making sure the upset didn't happen. A lot of their players have played in the EFL and have been winning a lot lately, we had everything to lose.

"Some of the goals we scored were excellent, well worked with good football. We just need to turn our dominance into goals, and if we do that we are going to start winning consistently.

"I have tried to preach some togetherness and patience. At the minute we have a small window to try and implement a framework which can give us some consistency and win games consistently. I have a huge amount of belief in what we can do.

"We've had to ride a bit of a storm, our form has been mid-table which is an improvement from when I walked through the door, and I am confident I can give us a framework and a foundation to make sure our building stays strong."

On the third round draw: "I'd rather not [get] a team in our own league, an inbetweener. I'd like a chance to progress at home, or a huge game for the fans that can be lucrative for the football club would be great."

Carlisle manager Mark Hughes told BBC Radio Cumbria:

"It certainly wasn't as the scoreline reflects.

"I thought we acquitted ourselves well, started the game strongly but it just seemed that whenever we seemed to be building momentum it was nipped in the bud.

"We were a bit loose in our defensive work, and that goes for the midfield and forwards as well. We talked before the game about having a good shape and for the most part that worked well.

"I never felt like we were under constant pressure, but there are always defining moments in games and if a couple of chances from our side had gone in it would have been a completely different game, and we would have taken it to them.

"We were guilty of not taking our chances, we have had a couple of games like that and that's an area we need to improve. We need to be more clinical.

"That's the reason they play at this level, they are able to take their chances more when they get them."