The Blues started pre-season with a strong performance on the road at Penrith.
Paul Simpson named two separate elevens – one for each half – allowing a range of players to get the required minutes as we begin our friendly schedule.
United took an early lead after only four minutes. A ball crossed low from the right found Harper at the back post, who made no mistake from point-blank range.
Luke Hunter had the hosts’ best chance in the opening exchanges. Harry Lewis was alert to save the forward’s driven shot from outside the area.
Moments later, Wyke was brought down on the edge of the area and Butterworth doubled our lead from the resulting set-piece after curling the ball into the top corner.
Second-year scholar Dan Hopper made a lung-busting run on 22 minutes. Charlie Wyke was looking to make contact with his cross at the far post, but Penrith cleared the danger.
Sam Lavelle came to the rescue for the Blues shortly after as he made a fine block to deny Hunter.
On 33 minutes, Carlisle made their first change of the night as youngster Sam Hetherington replaced Charlie Wyke.
Dan Butterworth looked to extend United’s lead further as we approached the interval, but his half-volley flew wide of Taylor’s goal.
The aforementioned attacker continued to be a threat and soon added our third. After a few bounces around the box, he opened his body and found the bottom-left corner from the edge of the area.
Five minutes into the second-half, Taylor Charters made it four from the penalty spot. The spot-kick came following great work between Freddie O’Donoghue and Sam Hetherington in the build-up.
Moments later, we had another. The two youngsters were involved once again. Hetherington picked out O’Donoghue, whose cross found Armstrong and the striker tapped home.
On 57 minutes, United nearly added a sixth. Armstrong turned creator this time, picking out Mellish, but his shot landed in the arms of the ‘keeper.
Eleven minutes later, Sam Hetherington was causing issues again, this time finding Armstrong inside the box, whose effort went wide
Charters doubled his tally with 17 minutes remaining after guiding a header into the top corner superbly – making it 6-0 to Carlisle.
Both Hetherington and O’Donoghue bagged a well-deserved goal in the closing stages, capping off a strong performance from United in our first pre-season outing.
Teams:
Penrith AFC – Taylor, Piele (61’ Gordon), Bell (61’ Holden), May (67’ Prokas), Morrey (82’ Hope), Moynan © (61’ Grandison), Moore (67’ Moore), Coombe, Coleman, Hunter (82’ Rebanks), Hammell (82’ Williamson)
Carlisle United (first-half) – Lewis, Lavelle ©, Haydon, Robson, Wyke (33’ Hetherington), Butterworth, Vela, Harper, McGeouch, O’Brien, Hopper
Carlisle United (second-half) – Breeze, Thomas ©, Charters, Neal, Mellish, Barclay, Allen, Fitzpatrick, Armstrong, Hetherington, O’Donoghue
Match officials:
Referee – Scott Henry
Attendance:
1,030