The young Blues defeated Gateshead 3-0 at the UTS Stadium to progress into the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
Lewis Lambert and Reuben Towers’ first-half strikes gave United the lead at the break before Amaru Smith sealed the victory in the second period.
Mark Birch made one change from the young Blues’ 5-0 win at Morecambe in the previous round, with Will Hatton coming in for Jamie Hodgson.
United started on the front foot when Smith burst down the right and crossed to Seb Mason, whose goal-bound shot was deflected over the crossbar by some last-ditch Gateshead defending.
The young Blues gained the lead from the resulting corner with Jonah Lowes’ deep delivery finding Simon Rigby on the edge of the box, which the midfielder headed onto the crossbar, and Lambert reacted quickest to tap in the rebound after two minutes.
Tony Wigham’s side attempted to respond to United’s early lead when Adam Doyle broke down the right flank and found Jake Lish, whose prod goalwards was palmed past the upright by Sam Worth.
Reuben Towers won a penalty for Birch’s side in the 26th minute with his intricate footwork drawing a foul out of Ollie Reade, and he then made no mistake from the spot, confidently placing the ball into the right corner, sending Adan Martin the wrong way.
Towers continued to trouble the hosts’ right back, again evading his marker and forcing Martin into a save with a low effort, which the Heed stopper turned away with his feet.
Smith's pace was a continuous threat, and he flew through midfield, finding Mason whose low cross just evaded the onrushing Towers.
Worth had to be at full stretch to deny Ben Hewitson, whose bobbling shot tested the reactions of the young Blues stopper.
HALF-TIME: Gateshead 0-2 Carlisle United
The second half started in a fractious fashion with neither side controlling the game before Towers sprang into life with a neat piece of skill, providing the space to shoot from distance, which flew high and wide.
United got a third goal of the evening in the 63rd minute through Smith, who calmly collected Towers deflected cross and fired past Martin in the Gateshead goal.
Zac Tonge nearly added a fourth in the 86th minute when he went through on goal but failed to beat Martin, who was quick off his line to block the shot.
Hayden Atkinson powered down the right in added time and had Martin at full stretch to turn over his left-footed shot as the young Blues closed out the victory.
FULL-TIME: Gateshead 0-3 Carlisle United
Teams:
Gateshead: Martin, Reade (Bakou 76), Gettings, Leach, Blakey, Price (Comp 76), Payne (Da Sila 56), Doyle, Lish, Hewitson (Lammah 68), Coulthard (Okike 68)
Unused subs: Douglas
Carlisle United: Worth, Atkinson, Hatton (McDonough 80), Porter, Penney, Rigby, Towers (Rafferty 73), Lowes, Lambert (Bell 67), Mason (Wade 80), Smith (Tonge 76)
Unused subs: Atherton, Miller
Goals:
Gateshead: N/A
Carlisle United: (Lambert 2) (Towers 26) (Smith 63)
Yellow Cards:
Gateshead: (Blakey 76)
Carlisle United: N/A
Red Cards:
Gateshead: N/A
Carlisle United: N/A
