A Kane Hemmings double threw Notts County a survival lifeline as they held on for a 3-1 win at Carlisle to move off the foot of League Two.

Hemmings grabbed his first goal before the break and added a second from the penalty spot.

Hallam Hope replied with his 13th goal of the season but Carlisle's play-off ambitions were blown off course at a windswept Brunton Park and Lewis Alessandra added a third for the visitors in stoppage time.

County had most of the early possession, with Enzo Boldewijn forcing Adam Collin into a diving save with a shot which zipped across the surface. Hemmings blasted over the loose ball from a tight angle.

Collin came to Carlisle's rescue in the 35th minute, pushing away a Michael Doyle free-kick from the right which was heading for the far corner.

But County took advantage of a defensive error by Gary Liddle to snatch a 37th-minute lead. The full-back left a backpass short and Hemmings capitalised to steer the ball past Collin at the second attempt.

Hemmings scored his second goal of the night from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after a foul on Richard Duffy.

After a long wait while the Carlisle defenders disputed the decision, Hemmings kept his cool and blasted the ball high into the roof of the net.

Hope got Carlisle back into the game in the 77th minute with the cheekiest of goals. As Ryan Schofield dropped the ball in front of him to kick it clear, the forward nipped round from behind him, stole it and slotted home.

Although Nathan Thomas went close against his former club, County made it 3-1 in added time when Alessandra raced through from halfway to slot into an empty net.

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