Carlisle United under-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup after losing on penalties to Newcastle Blue Star at the KD Stadium.
Goals from Oscar Murphy and Alex McDonough looked to have sealed United’s place in the next round, only for Craig Metcalfe to level the scores up and send the match to penalties.
Mark Birch made two changes from last week’s defeat against Stockport County, with Harry Moynan and Reuben Towers replacing Dan Miler and Zac Tonge.
The Blues were forced onto the back foot in the opening minutes, as Finley Boertien was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity after pulling back Jay Richardson who was through on goal.
Despite being reduced to 10-men, United created the majority of the clear-cut chances with opportunities falling to Nathan Wheatley and Towers.
However, the hosts would take the lead against the run of play through Alessio Okike who managed smash the ball into the back of the net after it fell to him fortuitously in the penalty area.
HALF-TIME: Newcastle Blue Star 1-0 Carlisle United
The Blues would come out for the second half with added intensity, Will Rafferty came agonisingly close to pulling the scores level, but his powerful effort whistled just over the crossbar.
Blue Star ‘keeper Jack Rye would be forced into several important saves to keep out Towers and Smith, as United pushed for a leveller.
A leveller would be found soon after, when substitute Murphy, connected with Josh Wade’s free-kick to head past Rye.
Ben Aaron was inches away from completing the turn-around when his header cannoned off the post and into the grateful hands of Rye.
The 10-men would take the lead with just under 20 minutes left to play when McDonough was able to turn the ball home after a scramble in the hosts’ six-yard box,
Blue Star would respond in the dying seconds through Metcalfe, who showed composure to slot the ball past Sam Worth and send the game to penalties.
The hosts would take the spoils in the shootout, winning 4-3, after McDonough and Smith failed to convert from 12-yards.
FULL-TIME: Newcastle Blue Star 2-2 Carlisle United (4-3 after penalties)
Lineups:
Newcastle Blue Star: Rye, Young, Reilly (Finn 47’), Carson, Harrison, Thompson (Bell 52’), Gribbin (Metcalfe 79’), Whitwell (Callaghan 65’), Richardson, Birch (O’Neill 75’), Okike
Unused: Davison, Sutherland
Carlisle United: Worth, Bell, Moynan, Aaron, McDonough, Boertien, Towers, Rafferty, Wheatley, Smith, Wade
Unused: Robinson, Harabasz, Stuart
Goals:
Newcastle Blue Star: (Alessio Okike 31’), (Metcalfe 87’)
Carlisle United: (Murphy 60’), (McDonough 72’)
Yellow cards:
Newcastle Blue Star: (Richardson 35’), (Thompson 51’), (Gribbin 68’), (Finn 81’)
Carlisle United: (Rafferty 10’)
Red cards:
Newcastle Blue Star: N/A
Carlisle United: (Boertien 7’)
Attendance:
461
