Carlisle United were beaten 3-1 at Springfields by Preston North End in the opening match of their Professional Development League Cup campaign.
Michael Ayodele’s hat-trick proved to be the difference between the two teams, despite Alex McDonough giving United the lead.
Mark Birch made two changes from last week’s league victory at Shrewsbury Town, with Oscar Murphy and Josh Wade replacing Ted Thwaites and Tyler Cumersky.
The hosts started on the front foot, Sam Worth had to pull of several saves to keep the scoreline level.
Marshall Longson should have given Preston the lead after getting on the end of a quick breakaway, only to blaze the ball high over Worth’s goal.
It was the Blues who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the early stages of the match however, when Will Rafferty smashed the crossbar after managing to connect with Dan Miller’s deep cross into the box.
United would take the lead less than 3 minutes later, McDonough got on the end of a well-worked set-piece from Miller to head past Nuri Latham and into the top left corner.
The lead wouldn’t last long as Ayodele produced some brilliant skill to beat several defenders before picking out the top corner and bringing the hosts level.
Preston would complete the turnaround within three minutes, Ayodele would get his second of the afternoon after finishing off Ethan Tempest’s whipped cross.
Nathan Wheatley would come closest to levelling the scores after winning the ball high up the pitch, but his goal-bound effort was deflected away for a corner.
The Blues were forced into an early change before the break, with Rafferty being replaced by Jack Hodgson after the former picked up an injury to his lower leg.
HALF-TIME: Preston North End 2-1 Carlisle United
The Lilywhites started the second-half in a similar manner to the first, with intensity.
Tempest should’ve doubled the hosts’ lead after getting on the end of Ayodele’s delivery, but he was only able to direct his finish over the bar.
Wade would come closest to equalling the scores, after United had won a free-kick in a great position, but his effort was held by Latham.
Preston would get their third of the afternoon soon after, again through Ayodele, who managed to complete his hat-trick after beating Worth from distance with a powerful strike into the bottom corner.
United pushed hard to try and rescue a point from the game, but they were unable to do so and suffered a defeat in their opening PDL Cup match.
FULL-TIME: Preston North End 3-1 Carlisle United
Team:
Preston North End: Latham, Hickey, Nickson, Garrigan, Whalley (C), Green, Longson, Forshaw, Ayodele, Stanford, Tempest
Carlisle United: Worth, Moynan, Miller, McDonough, Murphy, Boertien, Rafferty (Hodgson 45’), Aaron (Cumersky 80’), Wheatley, Bell (C), Wade (Harabasz 76’)
Unused subs: Robinson, Blaylock
Goals:
Preston North End: (Ayodele 29’, 32’, 66’)
Carlisle United: (McDonough 25’)
Yellow Cards:
Preston North End: (Whalley 52’), (Tempest 59’)
Carlisle United: (McDonough 65’)
Red Cards:
Preston North End: N/A
Carlisle United: N/A
