Carlisle United drew 1-1 with Livingston yesterday in a friendly fixture, part of their week’s training at St Andrew’s University Campus.
It was an opportunity for a first look at recent signing Dan Butterworth, who had an hour while both Corey Whelan and Jayden Harris were given the full 90.
Former United players Shamal George and Tom Parkes were in the Livingston team, who also included a number of trialists.
New boy Butterworth had Carlisle’s first effort when Joe Garner guided a long punt from Tomas Holy into his path but he fired over the bar.
Jon Mellish continued to make a series of long, penetrating and supportive runs down the left as he saw plenty of the ball in the first-
Taylor Charters twice caused anxiety in the Livi penalty area with good set-piece deliveries but they were finally both cleared.
Livingston hadn’t managed to work Holy but they took the lead before the break. The Scots won the ball back and when Stephen Kelly was teed-up he smashed a great shot from outside the area into the top corner.
Carlisle should have had a penalty early in the second-half when there appeared to be a definite outstretched arm to prevent a clever header from Butterworth reaching the target.
Play was waved on but Carlisle looked to be taking control and worked a good move involving Whelan, Harris and Garner before Butterworth fired just wide.
Substitute Bruce Hamilton almost grabbed a second for the Scots but his good strike from the edge of the box took a deflection off Paul Huntington and dipped just over the bar.
At the other end a drilled, low cross from Jordan Gibson saw Whelan stretch and connect but the ball was deflected away off a Livingston defender.
Carlisle were them denied by the offside flag when Ryan Edmondson steered home a cross from Jack Armer.
But the former Leeds forward got his reward in the 73rd minute when a clever ball from Gibson gave him the opportunity to finish off from close range.
Both teams had their moments in attack but neither goalkeeper was tested in the time that remained.
Carlisle United – Holy (Langley 60), Whelan, Lavelle (Huntington 60), Mellish (Kilsby 60), Barclay (Ellis 60), Harris, McGeouch (Guy 60), Charters (McCalmont 60), Robinson (Armer 60), Garner (Edmondson 60), Butterworth (Gibson 60).
