Carlisle United lost their opening Central League Cup fixture when they went down 2-1 at Wigan Athletic.
There was a start for Kai Nugent, continuing his comeback from injury and he played the whole game.
Ben Barclay (53 mins) and Dylan McGeouch (73 mins) were the only players in the starting 11 who didn’t see it all through.
It proved to be a very competitive game, with very little between the two sides and all the goals came in the second half.
Chris Sze was closest to giving Wigan the lead with a viciously dipping shot over Gabriel Breeze which rattled the underside of the bar and somehow stayed out before Corey Whelan cleared.
It was Sze who did actually give Wigan the lead on 59 minutes when the Carlisle defence seemed to melt away and the home forward drilled the
Sze was then brightest forward on the pitch and he was also involved when Wigan doubled their lead on 72 minutes. Although Breeze denied him with a point blank save the ball fell loose and Josh Magennis hammered it into the roof of the net.
It took only three minutes for United to get back into the contest as they reduced the arrears.
After a Jack Robinson cross had only been partially cleared Jayden Harris drilled in a shot which nestled in the net via the underside of the bar.
There could have been additions to the Wigan tally before the end but in the closing stages Breeze distinguished himself with top saves to deny the lively Sze and Josh Stones.
Carlisle United – Breeze, Ellis (c), Barclay (Allan 53), Whelan, Robinson, Harris, McGeouch (Park 73), Charters, Nugent, Edmondson, Butterworth. Subs – Barry, Hetherington, Swinburn.
