Carlisle United made it two wins and a draw from their three fixtures in the Central League Cup group stages so far as they beat Blackpool 3-0 at Squires Gate on Tuesday afternoon.
A strong Blues side included first-team squad members Jack Bridge, Canice Carroll, Christie Elliott, Louis Gray, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Olufela Olomola and Mo Sagaf, with new arrival Nick Anderton also getting his first 60 minutes with the club under his belt.
United had the better of the possession through the first period and they had the first sight of goal when Bridge was tripped on the edge of the box. The set piece from Carroll was helped out of the box and Charters was disappointed to slice his effort wide.
The Blues took the lead on 26 minutes when a cross from Birch was headed out of the area, Jack Bridge picked it up and he dropped a shoulder before clipping it into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
A snapshot from Olomola flashed wide when he was picked out by Charters following more good work in midfield, and the young midfielder had a shot of his own deflected past the post as he tried to squeeze his effort through a ruck of bodies.
Into the second half and Olomola was left with his head in his hands as he got on to the end of a wicked delivery from Birch. He saw it late, and his volley somehow went the wrong side of the upright from just four yards out.
It was a good spell of pressure from the away side and Knight-Percival was next to test the stopper when he got on the end of a dipping corner from Charters. Safe hands prevented Wilson from making anything of the rebound.
Left back Nick Anderton wasn’t too far away with a rasping drive from distance just before the hour, and the deserved second goal finally arrived with 20 minutes left to play when Carroll whisked a free kick into the mix. Tom Wilson timed his run perfectly to glance it into the net.
The points were wrapped up when a teasing cross from Christie Elliott caused problems. The ball was allowed to run free inside the area and Jayden Major said thank you very much as he rifled it into the bottom corner.
United: Gray, Elliott, Anderton (Lightfoot 60), Knight-Percival, Wilson, Bridge, Sagaf (Major 83), Carroll, Birch, Olomola, Charters (Armstrong 77). Not used: Robinson.
Goals: Bridge (26), Wilson (70), Major (85)
