If things continue to go well for the respective managers, Carlisle United and Stockport County will meet again next season in League Two.
United are virtually safe after a fine run under the returning Paul Simpson while Dave Challenor seems on the verge of capturing the National League title at County.
The two clubs met-up for a private friendly ahead of busy Easter programmes and County came out on top 2-0.
United played a blend of first-teamers and youth players ahead of Friday’s trip to Walsall and the Easter Monday game at home to Mansfield.
Assistant boss Gavin Skelton took charge although Simpson watched the game in which Stockport won with goals from Jordan Keane and Alex Newby.
Magnus Norman played in goal for Carlisle as he was in need of game-time after under-studying Mark Howard for several months. They also used senior players Jack Armer, Joe Riley, Josh Dixon, Tyrese Omotoye and Lewis Alessandra.
Stockport used a few of their Football League loan players like Hull City’s Andy Cannon, Fulham’s Luca Ashby-Hammond, Hartlepool United’s Zaine Francis-Angol and Morecambe’s Courtney Duffus.
Skelton said. “It was a decent game, but you always want to win, so that’s disappointing.
“They had a really strong side out. Obviously they’re flying high in their division and you could see from the team they put out that they’re all vastly experienced, and they looked composed.
“It was a really valuable game for us in terms of getting minutes, particularly for the lads who didn’t play last weekend with another busy weekend coming.
“It’s important they get game time and they’ll benefit from that. The manager was here watching so it’s also important that the players try to showcase themselves.
“Even more importantly it’s getting that match fitness because that’s something you can’t replicate. You can train as hard as you like but you can’t beat getting games and minutes.”
“The good thing is that it was a really tough test. It was one where they looked the more dominant side in possession, but we probably had more chances.
“There were a few really good opportunities that we were disappointed not to take. If we had it would have made the game even more competitive.
“Over the piece it was a really good workout, and we had some of the young lads who came in from the youth team and performed really well.”
