Report from the Tuesday afternoon reserve game
First team squad members Mark Beck, Patrick Brough, Josh Gillies, Billy Paynter, Dave Symington and Paul Thirlwell were joined by youth team players and trialists for what turned into an eventful behind-closed-doors fixture against the Burnley U21 Development Squad at Brunton Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Horrible winter conditions did little to dampen the spirits as Burnley came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. A long ball forward fell nicely for Gilchrist and his blocked shot left Jamie Frost with an open goal to aim at. He wheeled away in disappointment as his precise attempt curled just past the post.
Carlisle settled and Dave Symington dropped deep to deliver a dangerous cross from wide on the right. Mark Beck moved off his marker and left Nizic with no chance as he thundered a header home from close range.
The home lead was doubled with 15 minutes on the clock when Paynter broke clear and earned his side a corner. Gillies trotted over to take it and a whisked delivery was met with another towering header and a second of the day for Beck.
The Clarets enjoyed a good spell midway through the half and Lowe tested the target with a long range shot which bounced wide of the upright. Gilchrist and Frost had attempts smothered when a ball into the area caused problems, and Frost was guilty of a glaring miss when he took his eye off the ball and screwed a volley wide from just four yards out.
United responded with a good spell of their own and a quick move down the left flank brought a low cross from Brough. Paynter dummied it and a touch from Beck left Symington with a clear sight of goal. He struck it well but it angled just over the bar.
The visitors came back into the game on 34 minutes when Symington toppled Gilchrist 23-yards from goal. Cameron Howieson placed the ball and made no mistake as he sent his free kick over the wall and into the top corner.
Carlisle restored their two goal cushion just after the break when Jordan Marshall ran onto the ball on the left wing. He spotted Paynter in space, as he arrived from deep, and the striker needed just one touch before stroking an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Howieson almost bagged his second of the day moments later when he clipped another well taken free kick just past the post, but United appeared to have put the result beyond doubt when a slick move, with touches from Paynter, Gillies and Symington, left Connor Hammell with time on his hands. He dropped a shoulder and drilled it into the back of the net as Burnley scrambled to recover.
Home confidence was high and Beck went past his man to send another great ball into the box. Paynter trapped it and unleashed a bullet of an effort which rattled back off the inside of the woodwork.
Burnley finished the game on the front foot and Howieson got his second of the day when White stopped his initial shot on the line, with an outstretched hand, as he slid in to try to make a block. The spot kick was firm, cleanly hit and accurate.
It was suddenly all about the visitors and they reduced the deficit to just one goal when Ntumba Massanka timed his run to perfection. His side foot finish into an empty net was the result of a sweeping and defence splitting move.
Tails were up and the equaliser followed – a third goal in as many minutes – when Massanka stayed calm with the ball at his feet. He took his time and earned the draw with another good finish.
Goals
United – Beck (7, 15), Paynter (50), Hammell (58)
Clarets – Howieson (34, 84 pen), Massanka (86, 87)
