United secured a first win away at Harrogate Town to grab their third victory on the bounce in pre-season.
First-half goals from Regan Linney and Luke Armstrong gave the Blues the win, picking up a crucial clean sheet in the process.
Mark Hughes made six changes from United’s 2-1 win at South Shields in midweek, with Terrell Thomas, Josh Williams, Callum Whelan, Regan Linney, Luke Armstrong and Elliot Embleton coming in for Archie Davies, Jonah Lowes, Josh Grant, Freddie O’Donoghue, Cedwyn Scott and Georgie Kelly.
Harrogate’s Tom Hill had the first chance of the game, having a shot blocked after Warren Burrell’s cross fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box.
Embleton had the first real opportunity for the Blues, sending a free-kick over the bar from just outside the area after Jack Ellis was fouled.
United broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Linney, who slotted the ball under James Belshaw to notch his third goal of pre-season after Ellis had nudged the ball into the forwards’ path.
Harry Lewis had to be quick off his line to block Ellis Taylor's effort after the hosts’ winger managed to get free on the right.
Armstrong doubled the Blues’ lead on the stroke of half-time, finding himself in the right place at the right time to tap in Junior Luamba’s deflected cross and score against his former club.
HALF-TIME: Harrogate Town 0-2 Carlisle United
The first effort on goal of the second half came from Armstrong, whose low strike through Anthony O’Connor’s legs tested Belshaw.
Stephen Duke-Mckenna had a free-kick sail over the bar with Lewis looking untroubled as the home side attempted to get back into the match.
Linney forced a corner for United in the 58thminute, and Aaron Hayden rippled the side netting from Embleton’s delivery.
Lewis was sharp to deny Tom Cursons, diving onto the ball to prevent the Harrogate forward from halving the Blues' lead.
Cursons then got onto a loose pass in the United half, attempting to go around Lewis, who forced the hosts’ forward wide, where he could only shoot into the side-netting.
Harrogate had a couple of efforts flash past the United goal but failed to get on the scoresheet, seeing the Blues hold on to win.
FULL-TIME: Harrogate Town 0-2 Carlisle United
Teams:
Harrogate – Belshaw, Gibson (Asare 74), Bradbury, O’Connor (Faulkner 74), Burrell (Cass 45), Fox (Duke-Mckenna 45), Smith, Evans, Hill, Taylor (Cursons 74), Bennett (McCoulsky 63)
Subs – Oxley, Etherington, Barnes, Trialist
United – Lewis, Williams (Davies 83), Hayden, Thomas, Murray (Harper 83), Ellis (Robson 83), Whelan (Trialist 67), Linney, Embleton (Scott 83), Luamba (Ajiboye 83), Armstrong.
Subs – Sillitoe, Atkinson, Lowes
Goals:
Harrogate - N/A
United – Linney (25), Armstrong (45)
Match officials:
Referee – David Webb
Assistant Referee – Matt Sowerby
Assistant Referee – Dan Woodward
Fourth Official – Andy Elliot
Attendance: 1751 (300 Away)
