While United were out of league action though results elsewhere couldn't have gone much better for them, as only Walsall and Wrexham won in the top eight. Leaders Blackpool, who have now lost their last two games against high-flying opposition, were defeated 2-1 at home to the Saddlers while the Red Dragons were victorious at Bury by the same scoreline.
Second-placed Macclesfield surprisingly went down 2-1 at Morecambe while Port Vale defeated title-holders Oldham, who now occupy eighth place, 2-0 at home. In the last two games to take place, with Accrington Stanley v Tranmere a victim of the weather, Stockport drew 3-3 at Rochdale and Preston defeated wooden spoon certainties Shrewsbury 3-1 at home.
Carlisle's next chance to actually play a league match comes this Saturday morning when they visit North Wales to face Wrexham. It's tightening up at the top now and we'll know whether or not United will have any chance of making a late run for the title when they face Blackpool (1st), Wigan (4th) and Walsall (2nd) over three weeks at the end of this month and beginning of April.
Unbeaten at home in the league all season though, and with six of their remaining nine games to be played in Carlisle, the young Blues still have to plenty to play for despite exiting the league cup on Friday. That could be a blessing in disguise however, as Burnley, in the semi-finals of that competition, still have at least 12 league and cup matches to fit in in less than two months, as well as nine reserve games, and we thought we had a fixture backlog!!
Youth Alliance Cup Northern Quarter-Finals
Carlisle United 0-3 Wigan (Friday, 1pm)
Results in the division on Saturday morning :
Accrington Stanley P-P Tranmere
Blackpool 1-2 Walsall
Bury 1-2 Wrexham
Morecambe 2-1 Macclesfield
Port Vale 2-0 Oldham
Preston North End 3-1 Shrewsbury
Rochdale 3-3 Stockport
Carlisle United P-P Chester (Monday, 2pm)
Fixture in the division on Tuesday :
Macclesfield v Walsall
Fixture in the division on Friday :
Wigan v Bury
Fixtures in the division next Saturday morning :
Chester v Morecambe
Preston North End v Port Vale
Shrewsbury v Rochdale
Stockport v Accrington Stanley
Tranmere v Blackpool
Walsall v Burnley
Wrexham v Carlisle United
Youth Team Results : Click here
Youth Team Table : Click here
Youth Team Reports : Click here
Youth Team Squad : Click here