Carlisle new boys Jokull Andresson and Terry Ablade got their first run out in United colours when the reserves had a quickly arranged game at Blackburn.
It finished 3-0 to the hosts, which was a rather harsh reflection on the game, but the main thing is that several Carlisle players – including the recent arrivals – got valuable game time.
The game was played at the Brockhall Training Centre and two of the Blackburn goals came in the 89th minute (a penalty) and in added time.
After Rovers had hit the bar early on United edged the contest with Ablade and Taylor Charters both doing well to get into shooting positions but neither bothered the home keeper.
Andresson had to make one excellent save, diving at the feet of a Blackburn forward as he was about to pull the trigger but generally it was Carlisle calling the shots.
Joe Garner spotted the home keeper off his line and from 40 yards tried a chip which saw the custodian scrambling back to tip it over the bar.
Charters and Dan Butterworth both knocked in dangerous corners which caused problems and one struck a defender before clipping the upright on its way behind.
It was very tight in the third quarter of the game but Blackburn made the breakthrough when they found some space and a nice finish – a dink over the advancing Andresson – found the Carlisle net.
Then more Blackburn pressure saw Ben Barclay back to head clear off the line.
Jayden Harris almost produced a piece of magic to get Carlisle level. From ten yards inside his own half he slalomed his way towards goal before unleashing a piledriver which whistle just wide.
But Rovers doubled their lead on 89 minutes following a great save by Carlisle’s Icelandic international. When he jumped up to deal with any follow-up shot he was adjudged to have caught the Blackburn player and a penalty was awarded. Andresson was sent the wrong way from the spot.
With the last move of the game, with Carlisle pushing for a goal, Blackburn broke and scored with a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Carlisle United – Andresson, Ellis (c), Barclay, Whelan, Robinson, Nugent (Hetherington 46), Butterworth, Harris (Swinburn 80), Charters, Ablade (Allan 60), Garner. Subs – Barry, Park.
