Billy Barr saw his United youth team slip to a disappointing 1-0 defeat this morning on the Brunton Park training pitch as Wigan Athletic made the trip back to Lancashire with a win in the bag.
After a first-half which the Blues mainly dominated without finding a killer touch the Latics took the lead a minute before half-time. A cross was played in low from the Wigan right and their number 9 ran on to the ball to slot home from four yards out, it was a well worked goal but it was hard luck on the United youngsters. Carlisle almost drew level though sixty seconds later as Andy Hardman’s near-post header from an Ashley Combe cross crashed against the woodwork and away to safety.
Pete Ferris came on at the start of the second-half after a long lay-off to replace James Earl on the right side of midfield. In the 60th minute United nearly grabbed an equaliser as Matty Bell’s volley from the edge of the box, following a Dan Kirkup knockdown, drifted just wide of the far-post.
United’s last good chance came in the 77th minute as Kirkup headed at Ferris corner straight at the keeper from 10 yards out.
Another 1-0 home defeat for the youngsters in which they outplayed the opposition for the majority of the game but just couldn’t make their pressure tell.
United line-up : Adam Bradley, Martin Graham (Richard Hoban 67), Ashley Combe, Dan Kirkup, Matty Bell, Paul Gardiner, Matty Baker (Mike Stewardson 67), Shaun Vipond, James Earl (Pete Ferris 46), Andy Hardman, Rob Bainbridge.