Carlisle United were knocked out of the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup by a spirited Kirkoswald side 2-1 at Frenchfield Park.
Niall Renwick’s stunning finish had given the hosts a first-half lead before Amaru Smith levelled deep into the second 45 with a penalty, but Ryan Bell scored the winner in injury time to send the Westmoorland League outfit through.
Mark Birch named a young Blues side mainly made up of first-year scholars, with Jonah Lowes captaining the side.
Smith took the game to Kirkoswald from he off, breaking down the right and finding Reuben Towers, who shifted the ball to Will Rafferty, but his shot flew wide.
United continued their bright start with Will Hatton sliding Towers through in the box, and his neat footwork allowed for an effort which went high over the bar.
Jake Holden had the hosts’ first opportunity in the 29th minute, racing down the right flank and stinging the palms of Sam Worth with a fierce shot before Smith went up the other end and tested Banks’ handling.
Renwick gave Kirkoswald the lead in the 33rd minute, cutting in past Hatton and curling a delightful effort into the left stanchion.
The Blues attempted to fight back through Tai Bell, who could only fire over the bar when one-on-one with Banks, before Tonge shot high off target from the edge of the box as the half came to a close.
HALF-TIME: Kirkoswald 1–0 Carlisle United
Josh Wade came on at halftime for United, and he was immediately involved, lifting Smith’s cross over the bar at the back post.
Holden nearly made the most of some loose defending from the Blues, latching onto a weak back header and lobbing Worth, but the effort drifted wide.
Rafferty and Wade were causing the hosts problems, both seeing their shots go off target as Birch’s side looked for an equaliser.
It was Smith who dragged United level, winning a penalty with his intricate footwork, drawing a trip inside the penalty area, and he was composed to send Banks the wrong way from the spot.
The Blues pushed for a winner, with Nathan Wheatley denied from close range by Banks’ superb reflexes.
But it was Bell who made the most of United failing to clear a long throw to power a shot past Worth and secure a progression in the Cumberland Cup.
FULL-TIME: Kirkoswald 2-1 Carlisle United
Teams:
Kirkoswald squad: Banks, Broadhead, B Renwick, Simpson, H Land, Prokas, Simpson, Gate, N Renwick, Murray, Holden, Cham, Robinson, Bell, Winspear, A Land
Carlisle United: Worth, Hatton (Miller 55), Hodgson, Porter, McDonough (Wade 46), Tonge (Muldoon 66), Rafferty, Lowes, Towers (Wheatley 66), Bell, Smith
Subs: Boertein
Goals:
Kirkoswald – (N Renwick 33), (Bell 90+2)
Carlisle United – (Smith 81)
