United equalise late in first pre-season friendly
The United U18 side left it late to grab a draw in their first pre-season against Blackpool but it was a fine finish from striker Kieran Hall which brought them their deserved share of the spoils.Midfielder Carl Taylor did the damage with an instinctive through ball and Hall did the rest as he nipped in to the tuck the ball under the advancing keeper.
The young Cumbrians started well, with a string of corners in their favour, and they almost took the lead with just 90 seconds on the clock as the Tangerines struggled to clear. Egan got the final touch but his poke took it wide of the post.
A neat pass from Salkeld put Hall into a good area as Carlisle looked the more settled, but his shot was right at the keeper and he dropped low to gather it up.
Blackpool slowly worked their way into the game and a high bouncing ball caused problems as it was allowed to run loose. Bacon raced off his line to make the initial block and did well to get in the way as the visitors tried to sweep the spillage into the back of the net.
It was a good spell for the away side and they were a whisker away when a long range snapshot skipped up off the surface and flew just past the upright.
Keeper Morgan Bacon was in action again on the half hour when an intricate move brought a fierce shot from the edge of the box. The big stopper dropped low to palm the effort away.
Carlisle finished the half in the ascendancy and Hall went close with a glancing header from an accurate Salkeld delivery. Hurley was next to tease the back line, when he stayed strong in the tackle, and Hall was an inch away from slotting his low cross in at the near stick.
Chances were few and far between after the break, but a poor back pass on the hour mark left Hall with a clear sight of the target. His volley beat the keeper but agonisingly flew just wide as he set himself to celebrate.
Blackpool had chances from set pieces but Carlisle should have taken the lead with ten minutes left to play when Brown lobbed the ball into the area for Bradbury. He took a touch and frustratingly blazed his shot over the bar.
The Tangerines grabbed the lead on 84 minutes when United failed to clear their lines. A messy build up resulted in a shot from close range which Bacon could do nothing about.
But Carlisle got the draw their overall determined play had deserved when Taylor and Hall combined to unlock the stubborn Blackpool defence.
United - Bacon, Hurley, Robson, Douglas (Groves 84), Pearson, Egan (Holt 70), Quigley (Rudd 39), Taylor, Bradbury, Salkeld (Brown 70), Hall. Subs not used - Fowler.
Goal - Hall (90)
