Carlisle United were dumped out of the FA Youth Cup last night, beaten 4-0 at home by Fleetwood Town.
Ruthless finishing by the visitors put them through and they had the necessary tenacity in defence to hold what Carlisle threw at them.
Nick Bollado had been closest to a goal for Carlisle in the early stages but Fleetwood keeper just managed to deflect his effort past the post with an outstretched leg.
The visitors profited at the other end when they had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after Jake Allan was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Mikey Lane sent keeper Lewis Boyd the wrong way from the spot and United were behind.
Six minutes later Fleetwood doubled their lead when United were undone at a corner. A dangerous Kyle King corner wasn’t dealt with and Kayden Hughes powered a header into the roof of the net.
It became a scrappy affair after that and no real opportunities for either side although Carlisle thought they should have had a penalty when Bollado went down in the box.
Two minutes into the second half a hill climb had become a mountainous challenge as Fleetwood scored a third. Zane Marsh scored a fine solo goal after cutting in from the win and berating Boyd with a shot into the bottom corner.
got a toe to it, and he then bent his run, pushing wide before turning into the area. He feinted, then shot low, and Boyd was horrified as it whistled through legs and into his bottom corner.
It was game set and match four minutes later and again it was Marsh who finished, this time with a close-range header.
Carlisle did produce their best spell of the game in the final quarter but despite Bollado going close and Fleetwood surviving a frantic penalty box scramble, they couldn’t manage a consolation goal.
Youth team boss Paul Birch said: “They were better in both penalty boxes, both defending and attacking it,.
“The little bit in between you’ve got to be neat and tidy, but games are won in both penalty boxes.
“We didn’t defend the penalty box and weren’t aggressive enough in trying to create or score goals. After the first two goals it was game over, to be honest.
“It’s just really frustrating. Whether it’s the occasion because it is a big night, the lads have probably built themselves up for it.”Carlisle United – Boyd, Potts, Bell, Carr, Nugent, Allan (Walsh 69), Bollado, Hetherington (Swinburn 66), Hardy, Park, Hill (Fitzpatrick 56). Not used: Barry, Voortman, Fleming, Sharpe
