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The Blues started in a 4-4-2 formation with Paul Simpson filling in on the left for Peter Murphy who was rested with an ankle knock and Adam Murray starting in central midfield.
The first chance for United came on 12 minutes, Paul Arnison curling a free-kick in from the right which was headed back across goal by Derek Holmes with Kevin Gray just failing to connect at the far-post, Carlisle would continue to look dangerous at set-pieces all afternoon.
In the 18th minute, Hawley blocked a clearance on the edge of the box, the ball falling to Holmes who hit a half volley straight at Rovers keeper John Achterberg.
A prolonged period of Tranmere pressure midway through the first half saw them have some good efforts on the United goal. In the 23rd minute, Calvin Zola spooned over from just six yards out at a corner and in the following two minutes a Zola shot again and a Gareth Roberts free-kick were both pushed round the post by Anthony Williams.
The best chance of the first half for the Blues fell in the 33rd minute to Holmes, his downward header from an Arnison cross being expertly tipped wide low-down by a full-stretch Achterberg.
Half-time came with the scores level at 0-0 in an even encounter.
Bad news for Carlisle came in the 49th minute with Holmes limping off following an awkward fall to be replaced by Glenn Murray.
The Blues hit the bar five minutes later as a Gray header from a Simpson cross smacked against the woodwork, Glenn Murray’s follow-up shot being blocked away for a corner, Simpson himself hit a speculative 30-yarder two minutes later that never really troubled Achterberg.
The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute with a fantastic Hawley strike from 20 yards out on the right-hand edge of the box, his shot across Achterberg giving the keeper no chance and putting the Blues 1-0 up.
On 72 minutes Mark Rankine brought down Chris Billy on the edge of the box and Simpson’s resultant curling free-kick was pushed away by the busy Rovers keeper.
United went 2-0 ahead in the 74th minute with a Hawley deflection to a Simpson shot finding the bottom corner. Excellent work by Glenn Murray in the corner led to him beating two men, finding the by-line and pulling the ball back to a lurking Simpson who smashed the ball home via Hawley’s knee.
The Blues finished well, substitute Raphael Nade heading wide from a Simpson cross and the pace of Simon Hackney and Glenn Murray causing the Rovers defence problems. Michael Jackson’s continuous niggly fouls would certainly have seen a yellow card for the visitors in a league encounter and his performance can't have been much of a "thriller" for boss Little.
Paul Simpson said after the match :
" Pre-season has gone very well, I'm very pleased with the fitness and the results have been good but it isn't all about those.
" The back four looked solid and it's possibly the starting eleven although that is no secret. I might not start as hopefully Peter Murphy will be fit for next Saturday after he was rested today because he picked up an ankle injury on Tuesday.
" It was a fantastic performance from Glenn Murray who did everything when he came on, winning headers and holding the ball up well."
On the subject of the second goal Simmo said : " Karl Hawley can have it, hopefully it will give him confidence and I want the strikers to be wanting goals. "
So onto the proper stuff with an away opener at Wycombe but if the pre-season games are anything to go by United should avoid the traditional relegation scrap and with a couple of good signings perhaps push for a play-off place.
United :
Williams, Arnison, Simpson, Billy, Livesey, Gray, McGill (Nade 60), Aranalde, Holmes (G Murray 49), Hawley (Hackney 75), A Murray (Weller 66)
Unused Subs : Grand, Thompson, Beharall.
Tranmere :
Achterberg, Linwood, Roberts, Jackson, Sharps, Harrison, Rankine (Jennings 77), Zola (Davies 79), Greenacre, Aiston (Brown 60), Goodison (Hume 55)
Unused Subs : Wilson,Tremarco.
Referee : C Webster
Attendance : 1757