Carlisle United continued a promising build-up to the new National League season with a 4-2 win at Darlington last night.
All the Carlisle goals came in the first half, when they showed a willingness for hard work which will have pleased new boss Rob Elliot as much as the goals.
There was also a lively showing from trialist Leo Duru, a 21-year-old full-back who has been playing in the States where he is qualified to play international football and has represented the USA Under-20’s three times.
Manchester-born Duru was with Blackburn Trovers for two years and played eight games for Barrow on loan in 2025.
The Carlisle goals came from Harvey Bunker, Miguel Azeez, Regan Linney and Callum Whelan as they led 4-1 at the break.
The only goal in the second-half was a penalty for Darlington in the 73rd minute.
Carlisle had two other trialists on show in Kyle Hadlin and Jack Young with boss Elliot continuing to look at more options.
There’s no missing Hadlin, at 6ft 9ins regarded as the tallest striker in world football, and currently available after a brief spell in Vietnam.
Most of his senior football was spent at Solihull Moors (13 goals in 58 games) before a spell with Huddersfield Town. From there he had loan spells at AFC Wimbledon, Newport County and Burton Albion.
Young, 25, hails from Morpeth and is a former Newcastle United youth team player who had loans spells with Tranmere, Wycombe , Ayr Utd and Wealdstone before more recently playing in the south with Dorking, Farnborough and Woking.
