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Their side was nothing compared to the youth in United's team though, with three of the starting eleven being 15-years old, two of those being the outstanding centre-half pairing of Lance McGlen and Brad Potts who made one mistake between them in the whole 90 minutes. As for the Carlisle matchday fifteen, well eight of them were either 15 or 16, a fact which bodes very well for the future.
Some of them pushed into action with Ryan Bowman and Steven Swinglehurst away on first-team duty, Kieran Cahill nursing his injured ankle and Mark Sloan having just had his tonsils out. It was Preston who started better in the game as the young Blues took a short while to get used to each other, Michael McLellan as early as the first minute laying off possession to Doyle Middleton for a 22-yard right-footed shot that went well wide.
Six minutes later and Carlisle struggled to get rid of a corner in from North End left-back Reece James, Phil Towler's headed part clearance being pushed back into the box by Will Hayhurst. Blues goalkeeper Mark Gillespie then making a tremendous stop from Preston skipper Scott Leather's close range volley, the Cumbrians then finally able to clear their lines.
With 15 minutes gone United got their opening goal attempt in when Dan Jones played in trialist Luke Carr down the left-hand channel, Carr then shooting left-footed straight at North End stopper Steven James from 12 yards out. Shortly afterwards and Jones put in a cross from the right which ended up at the feet of Ben McKenna just outside the box, his right-footed drive from there flying away from danger off Preston's Fred Holtom.
In the 19th minute there were small appeals for a penalty by the visitors when, on the end of a Luke Clarke through ball, Hayhurst seemed to go to ground rather easily and a bit late while rounding Mark Gillespie, referee Joe Buglass therefore ignoring Hayhurst's claims as the ball ran out for a goal-kick. North End then having to make the first substitution of the match three minutes later when McLellan went off injured and was replaced by Daniel Birchall.
Carlisle had a goal disallowed in the 26th minute when Jones made a good run forward before playing in Richardson in the Preston box, Richardson though a yard or so offside as he lashed the ball into the net from close range beyond the reach of James. Bang on the half-hour mark and Carr made a great chase down and tackle down the right-wing on the back of a long ball up from James Bonner.
Carr, who for a small lad showed some good strength, touches and willing throughout, then cutting in from the flank before smacking in a 12-yard left-footed shot which was parried behind by James at his near-post, the resultant Matt Osmond corner coming to nothing. Five minutes on and and a Seanan Clucas handball on a Manny Richardson flick gave Carlisle a free-kick in the middle 25 yards out, McKenna though thumping it right-footed straight into the defensive wall.
After 40 minutes Osmond, now getting used to playing in his new left-back role with Cahill injured, whipped in two pacey corners in a row which North End did well to clear. The last chance of the half also coming the way of United sixty seconds later when, following a nice move by the Cumbrians, Towler hit in a weak left-footed 20-yarder that was easy for James to take.
During the break Carlisle boss Eric Kinder made a change in personnel as schoolboy David Symington came on for McKenna, North End then making their own substitution in the 52nd minute when Ryan Croasdale replaced Niam El-Harrati. The first chance of the second-half coming six minutes later from the only real mistake Potts or McGlen made in the game.
Potts miscontrolling a big boot up from the back by Preston which allowed Croasdale to lay off possession to Birchall for a left-footed strike from just outside the United box which whistled inches wide of Gillespie's far-post. Carlisle then going close themselves in the 61st minute when Osmond pushed a short corner into Richardson 15 yards out, Richardson then flicking the ball up for a right-footed volley from there which was well parried away by James at his near-post.
As a shower of rain began to come down McGlen was adjudged to have fouled Croasdale just beyond the Carlisle 'D'. Preston then working a clever free-kick between Clarke and Hayhurst, the ball down the side of the Cumbrians defensive wall was slightly overhit though and Carlisle were then able to clear their lines from the resultant mishit cross - a good idea from North End but badly executed.
The only goal of the game came the way of the Blues in the 68th minute when Osmond swung a corner in from the far side which Towler, eight yards out at the near-post, met with a tremendous thumping header that fairly flew down and into the Preston net. United then changing their forward line moments later when Carr and Jones went off to be replaced by two more schoolboy players in Mark Beck and Adam Gill.
Gill being involved in things in the 72nd minute when he played in Towler for a right-footed drive from 20 yards out which was deflected away wide off the legs of Clucas. Another Blues substitute, in Symington, then cutting in from the left-hand channel moments later before firing a 25-yard right-footed shot across goal but over the top of the angle of far-post and crossbar. North End then making their final change of the game after 77 minutes when Daniel Devine replaced Clarke.
Large parts of the second-half were a little bitty in all honesty as both sides worked hard to close each other down in midfield and attacking play started to come as a bit of a premium. Preston's only real chance to find a late leveller coming in the 82nd minute when Birchall made a sharp run in from the left before forcing a good save out of Gillespie with a right-footed shot from 20 yards out.
Referee Buglass must have had enough too, or he had left the kettle on at home, as he played no injury time and blew his whistle bang on the 45 minute mark. The win for Carlisle meaning that they still haven't drawn a league game this season, while another three points in their final match of the campaign at home to Wigan on Tuesday would guarantee a top six finish - and that wouldn't be a bad effort at all in a season of youth and transition.
United line-up :
Mark Gillespie (c), James Bonner, Matt Osmond, Manny Richardson, Brad Potts, Lance McGlen, Ben McKenna (David Symington 46), Josh Todd, Dan Jones (Mark Beck 69), Luke Carr (Adam Gill 69), Phil Towler.
Unused substitute :
Jon Ball (GK).
Preston line-up :
Steven James, Luke Clarke (Daniel Devine 77), Reece James, Doyle Middleton, Fred Holtom, Scott Leather (c), Seanan Clucas, Naim El-Harrati (Ryan Croasdale 52), Matt Dudley, Michael McLellan (Daniel Birchall 22), Will Hayhurst.
Unused substitutes :
None.
Referee - Joe Buglass (Walker-on-Tyne).
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