Carlisle United were beaten 2-0 last night by National League side Gateshead – their second successive defeat to a non-League outfit.
It wasn’t what manager Paul Simpson was looking for, or expecting, as the new season beckons in ten days time.
Over the 90 minutes Simpson used 18 players but he wouldn’t be happy about the way Gateshead were able to boss the game for good periods.
In the end two goals from Owen Oseni were enough to give the Head a deserved victory and leave United with one more friendly, at home to Stockport on Saturday, before the real action starts.
After a goal-less first half Oseni had made the breakthrough on 47 minutes when his low left foot strike evaded Gabe Breeze and ended in the far corner.
His second came after another nine minutes and was a more simple affair after he was left with a tap in by the post.
It could have been more for Gateshead as they were awarded a penalty in each half. Luke Hannant blasted the first spot kick wide and his second effort struck the outside of the post and went behind.
Carlisle did have opportunities themselves and home keeper Tiernan Brooks made a couple of fine saves, one in particular from a Luke Armstrong strike won the applause of his team-mates.
Other chances were wasted by Georgie Kelly and Sam Lavelle while Oseni should have had a hat-trick but left unmarked in the middle of the area he headed wide.
There was one late effort from Harrison Neale to test Brooks but he was able to turn aside a well-struck shot from the United midfielder.
Carlisle United – Breeze, Harper (46, Neal), Lavelle (60, Hayden), Kelly (60, Wyke), Butterworth (60, O’Donoghue), Charters (60, Davies), Ellis, McGeouch (46, Vela), Mellish, (46, Thomas), Barclay, Armstrong
Unused subs – Smith, Allan, Hetherington
