United’s under-18 second years were joined by first year professionals Jamie Armstrong, Charlie Barnes, Charlie Birch and Liam Lightfoot for a behind closed doors pre-season friendly against Carlisle City at Gillford Park on Thursday night.
A well contested game saw Elliott Day score for United, with the scores level at 1-1 at half time courtesy of a goal for the hosts from Rob McCartney.
And City went ahead just moments into the second period when Marc Shiel got the decisive touch as a set piece came into the box.
Youth boss Eric Kinder said: “It was poor defending by us for both goals. Having said that, it’s our first game since March so it was more important to get the lads out there and playing again.
“As with any pre-season friendly there were changes being made all the time, which does disrupt things a little bit, but even then it’s about getting playing time for as many people as possible.
“Most of our lads played 90 minutes, which is good, because with things as they are at the moment we won’t get as many friendlies as we would normally organise.
“That means we have to take advantage of these games when we can, and Carlisle City have been superb with us yet again.
“They were men, which is a good test for our lads, and they put themselves about and held nothing back. Like I always say, I enjoy seeing our lads go up against that, because that’s what the game is all about.
“There’s a lot we can take from it, but we were very poor defensively, and that’s something we’ll work on.”
