Carlisle United won their annual pre-season friendly at Workington by 3-0 as the players battled squalls of torrential rain.
Despite the poor forecast, and the heavy showers that arrived before kick-off, a healthy crowd of 1,523 watched the game – many leaving for home in a soaked condition.
The two managers would get something out of the contest – each playing for the third time – and there were spells of good possession football from both teams.
Carlisle had most of the possession in the first half but it took 35 minutes to break down the home resistance. Jack Armer put in a cross from the left and steaming in from the right Jack Ellis hammered a low volley into the bottom corner.
Workington had not created much going forward, although a clever dummy and leave by new boy Kofi Moore enabled Lewis Reilly to get a shot away but it was oiff target.
Two goals in the first nine minutes of the second-half settled it for Carlisle. Good play down the left on 47 minutes released Jon Mellish and although home keeper Lewis Boyd got down well to block he couldn’t hold on and Alfie McCalmont was there to sweep it home.
Then on 54 minutes Jordan Gibson worked an opening before drilling a strong shot against the upright and when it eventually found its way back to him he made no mistake, firing into the bottom corner beyond Boyd.
It was after this that Workington enjoyed their best spell of possession in the Carlisle half of the field. Bobby Carroll was outstanding for the Reds with his work and relentless probing but trialist keeper Dan Langley, recently released by Newcastle, was never tested.
Boyd, at the other end, made a smart low save to deny Joe Garner and with both sides making several changes the game ended without further goals or incident.
Carlisle now take their training programme into Scotland before heading to Gateshead to take on Newcastle Under-23s, while Reds will travel to Carlisle City for their next pre-season assignment on Tuesday.
