Carlisle United fell to a 3-1 defeat to Hartlepool United at the Prestige Group Stadium.
Tyrese Sinclair started off the scoring with Alex Reid and Calvin Okike adding to the lead before Georgie Kelly pulled one back late on, while Harvey Macadam was sent off in the second half.
Mark Hughes made one change from the 3-0 win against Yeovil Town on Saturday, with Chris Conn-Clarke replacing Elliot Embleton, while Kelly came onto the bench after time out through injury.
The Pools started with intent when Sinclair slipped Reid into the box, which saw Morgan Feeney race across to block the shot.
Luke Armstrong had the Blues’ first attempt on goal after he was found by Conn-Clarke inside the hosts’ penalty area, but his low shot was parried by Nick Hayes.
A flowing spell of possession from Hughes’ side allowed Stephen Wearne to try his luck from distance, which rolled wide.
Sinclair gave the Pools the lead in the 12th minute, racing down the left flank and driving down the byline before curling the ball past Gabe Breeze from a narrow angle.
Momentum was with the North East outfit, and Breeze had to be alert to tip over Cameron John’s dipping cross.
A lovely move combining Alex Gilliead, David Ajiboye and Wearne saw the play worked to Conn-Clarke, who bent a shot narrowly wide.
John was proving a threat at left back, powering forward into the box and sending a vicious shot wide.
HALF-TIME: Hartlepool United 1–0 Carlisle United
Reid doubled the Pools’ lead in the 46th minute, efficiently swivelling on the half turn and firing past Breeze from the edge of the penalty area.
Gilliead’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off Feeney through the legs of Hayes and rolled towards the line, but was cleared away.
Macadam was given a second yellow card by referee Declan Bourne in the 59th minute when he was adjudged to have tripped Sinclair as he raced through on goal.
The hosts scored a third in the 77th minute when Sam Folarin strode onto a high ball forwards; his initial shot was saved by Breeze, but Okike found the net with the follow-up.
Kelly pulled a goal back for the Blues in the 79th minute, reacting first to Feeney’s flick on and finding the bottom corner.
Nicky Featherstone’s side should have had a fourth in the 85th minute when Tom Parkes scrambled a corner goalwards before Jack Hunter dragged an effort wide from close range.
A deep Wearne free-kick made its way to Regan Linney, but he sliced his attempt at goal wide at the back post.
Linney tried to further revive a comeback late on with a couple of efforts on Hayes’ goal, but failed to find the net as the Pools closed out the win.
FULL-TIME: Hartlepool United 3–1 Carlisle United
Teams:
Hartlepool United: Hayes, Benn, John, Parkes, Kouogun, Sheron (Oliver 92), Hunter, Miley (Holohan 7), Reid (Folarin 17), Daly (Campbell 71), Sinclair (Okike 76)
Unused subs: Smith, Johnson
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney, Ajiboye (Kelly 52), Galvin, Wearne, Ellis (Parker 81), Gilliead, Mugabi (Thomas 81), Armstrong, Macadam, Conn-Clarke (Linney 52)
Unused subs: Mair, Harper, Wyke
Goals:
Hartlepool United – (Sinclair 12) (Reid 46) (Okike 77)
Carlisle United – (Kelly 79)
Yellow cards:
Hartlepool United – (Sinclair 71)
Carlisle United – (Macadam 13, 59) (Ellis 68)
Red cards:
Hartlepool United – N/A
Carlisle United – (Macadam 59)
Match officials:
Referee - Declan Bourne
Assistant Referee 1 - Jamie Waters
Assistant Referee 2 - David Holmes
Fourth Official - Michael Robinson
Attendance:
4812
