It was a stark reminder that despite improved results against Horden and Newcastle Benfield, their defensive problems have not gone away despite frequent reshuffles.

Town’s management will seek to address that in the next few days by attempting to introduce more experience to the back line where communication too often seems to be lacking.

They made three changes from Saturday’s 2-1 win on Tyneside, with forward Jack Kilpatrick – signed on a dual registration with Whitby Town – making his debut, centre-back Reece Littlefair returning from holiday and Lucas Bramley coming in at left wing-back.

With seven teenagers in the starting line-up, it was the youngest side Northallerton have fielded this season.

In a frenetic start, Penrith took the lead after nine minutes through Alex Potts. There was no-one to mark him as he tapped in a right-wing cross.

Northallerton got back on terms through Ben Creamer just after the half-hour. The goal owed everything to an intelligent run from Lewis Martin, who laid the ball on a plate for his team-mate inside the box.

The Bonny Blues edged ahead again through Matthew Story after 39 minutes. The centre-half got his head on a right-wing free-kick that ‘keeper Ben Fairless appeared to save, but the referee ruled the ball had crossed the line.

Town were still not done in this entertaining first period and they equalised again two minutes before the break. Kilpatrick rifled the ball into the net and at this stage it was anyone’s contest to win.

It was Penrith who seized the initiative three minutes into the second period when they took the lead for the third time. Matthew Williamson found himself in acres of space to convert a right-wing cross.

Northallerton were aggrieved when they had a goal ruled out for offside but otherwise rarely looked like getting back on terms. Penrith piled on the agony with further goals from Jordan Palmer (71 mins) and Luke Brown (76 mins) in the closing stages as once again the visitors’ defence went to sleep.

Penrith: Boyd, Best (Telford 86), M Bell, Irving, Story, Moynan (J Bell 80), Potts, Brown, Williamson, McDonough (Makar 76), Palmer (Tinning 88).

Northallerton Town: Fairless, Wilson (Beasley 80), Bramley (Thomas 63), Eason (Tomlinson 52), Crooks, Littlefair, Alderson, Hopson, L Martin, Creamer, Kilpatrick.

Subs not used: Poole, Roddam.

Att: 139.