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David Raven came back into the fray for the Cumbrians at right-back bit it was the home side who pretty much bossed the first-half, putting together some neat possession football only to show very little end product. Striker Eifion Williams cut in from the right early on but could only send his left-footed effort wide of ex-Pool keeper Anthony Williams' far-post.
Gavin Strachan was running the show for the home side in midfield and they took the lead with a 25th minute Carlisle own goal, when full-back Darren Williams made an excellent attacking run down the right. The defender stuck a pacey low cross in across the United six-yard line which Blues centre-half Dan Kirkup was unable to get out of the way of, the ball pinging off the shins of the18-year old and straight into the back of his own net.
Darrell Clarke almost doubled the lead for 'Pools on the half-hour mark, but he just couldn't find the finish after a neat turn on the edge of the Carlisle box. There were very few chances either way to be honest in the opening 45 minutes, and the match certainly had a real pre-season friendly feel about it, the two sides trudging back down the tunnel at the break with Hartlepool holding that slender one goal advantage.
The Blues were a different outfit after the interval though after Neil McDonald made some tactical changes, Carlisle going to a more man-to-man marking system in order to stop the home side playing the ball around with ease. Left-winger Simon Hackney was also moved into just behind the front two, with Raphael Nade shifting over to the left flank, and Hackney was a revelation there as his nimble feet really got United pushing forward much more quickly.
In the 51st minute Glenn Murray really should have done better for the Cumbrians when he was set free by a Hackney through the ball down the middle, the Maryport-born striker could only pull his shot wide from a good position though. Neale McDermott, trialist son of the famous Terry, also tried to find a breakthrough for Carlisle but his long-range effort flew well over 'Pools keeper Jim Provett's crossbar shortly afterwards.
United did draw level in the 58th minute though through Nade, much to the delight of the 123 travelling Blues fans in the total Victoria Park attendance of 1,115. Adam Murray, on as a substitute for the subdued Luke Joyce, sent a deep cross in from the right which found it's way to the Hartlepool far-post. Nade had rushed in from the wing and was in the right place at the right time to loop his header back over the top of Provett and into the net to restore parity in the match.
Carlisle were well on top for most of the second period and they went the closest of the two sides to grabbing a late winner when Provett was forced to make an excellent save with his legs to deny Nade in a one-on-one with ten minutes left on the clock. The final score stayed at 1-1 though in what turned out to be pretty much a classic game of two halves, the 90 minutes no doubt proving to be a useful fitness builder for both sets of players as the Football League season draws ever closer.
Hartlepool line-up :
Jim Provett, Darren Williams, John Brackstone, Gavin Strachan (Mark Tinkler 77), Michael Nelson, Ben Clark, Darrell Clarke (Anthony Sweeney 61), Lee Bullock, Jon Daly (James Brown 75), Michael Proctor (Ritchie Humphreys 63), Eifion Williams.
Unused substitute :
Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
United line-up :
Anthony Williams, David Raven (Paul Arnison 65), Simon Grand, Danny Livesey, Dan Kirkup, Luke Joyce (Adam Murray 53), Neale McDermott, Simon Hackney, Raphael Nade, Glenn Murray, Derek Holmes.
Unused substitutes :
Keiren Westwood, James Earl and Pete Ferris.