A goal four minutes from the end meant Carlisle United went out of the FA Youth Cup last night.
Blackpool won the keenly contested first round tie with the 86th minute strike from
Billy Whaite’s second-half goal was the difference in a tightly contested clash with both having opportunities to win it.
The winner was a bizarre goal, too, as left back Jamie Hodgson attempted to clear but saw it rebound off Whaite into the bottom corner of the net.
Hodgson had come into the side as the only change from the team that had got through the last round.
Amaru Smith is small, but lively, quick and skilful, and was the player that caused Blackpool most problems in the first half.
Twice he had keeper Charlie Brier scrambling to make important stops in the first quarter of the game.
Sam Worth, the United keeper, also had to be alert as he had to make two important stops from Blackpool’s best efforts.
At the end of the half Reubem Towers had the best chance when Brier was down, blocking an effort from Sam Mason, hut he fired over an empty net.
Worth ws the keeper first in action after the break, sticking out a leg to thwart Shay Mannix when he went through on goal.
And when they broke quickly United almost took the lead. A great effort from Mason need an equally good stop by Brier.
Then it was Towers who managed to get round the Blackpool keeper but saw his effort on goal cleared by a covering defender.
It had been a lively contest, with each side having their moments, and all rather disappointing in the way it was settled in the 86th minute.
Carlisle United: Worth, Atkinson, Hodgson (Wade 87), Porter, Penney, Rigby, Towers (Rafferty 73), Lowes, Lambert (Bell 66), Mason, Smith
Unused subs: Tonge, McDonough, Atherton, Hatton
