Carlisle United 2 Stockport County 1 Pre-Season 3rd August 2024

 

 

 

 

 ( All words and images kindly provided by Adrian Caville )

County's final pre-season game took place at Brunton Park on a sunny summers day pitching the two sides together for the first time since that Wembley play off final 14 months ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 Given that this was the visitors second game in the space of less than 24 hours the changes rang out with the side comprising of players who did not feature against Blackburn the previous evening coupled with youth players and a smattering of trialists. Carlisle for their part went with pretty much their strongest line up and it showed as their strong well organised team edged the game 2-1.

Referee Simon Mather got the game underway and almost from kick off an error in the County defense allowed Daniel Adu-Adjei to get a shot off that looked goal bound but Ben Hinchliffe had other ideas and saved with his legs. The home side continued their offensive and dominated the early stages gaining a number of corner kicks that were not capitalised on. County meanwhile attempted to get Louie Barry into the game and his re-introduction to the team was christened with a clattering foul on him. Jay Mingi's debut introduction was met with a similar foul on him. More Carlisle attacking left Adu-Adjie with the simplest of tasks to score from a yard out but somehow he contrived to put the ball over the bar.

 

 Louie`s return Part 1........

`

 

 

County tried to pass the ball around but made little progress compared to Carlisle's stronger more direct approach albeit at the cost of conceding several free kicks that the visitors were unable to capitalise on. An injury to Dylan Mcgeough saw him replaced by ex hatter Ben Barclay for the home side ,following yet another corner on 25 minutes for the home side that was partially cleared and then it wasn't as Adu-Adjei buried the ball into the goal. My first reaction was that he was offside but it mattered not as the Bournmouth loanee's goal stood. At this point some Carlisle officials offered team sheets at 50 pence a go which County fan Richard kindly purchased as I had gone 'cashless' unlike the seller.

Carlisle continued in attacking mode and a long range rocket from Harrison Neal was brilliantly saved by Ben. County gained their first corner on 31 minutes but did not trouble Harry Lewis in between the sticks for Carlisle. Louie Barry embarked on one of his trademark runs down the left side which looked encouraging although the ball eventually went out for a goal kick. County were limited in being able to play the ball out from the back meaning that Ben was hitting most balls long looking for Kyle Wooton.

A moment of concern as Louie Barry was caught by Aaron Hayden. Thankfully he appeared OK the foul merited a card but Mr Mather deemed not. It was a poor challenge but the last thing County need is any further injuries to its dwindling pool of players.  

Half time Carlisle United 1  Stockport County 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

With County kicking towards the end housing the (side on) visiting supporters the home side introduced Luke Armstrong for Adu-Adje. No immediate changes from County.  Another long range shot from Harrison Neal troubled nobody. A pass to Jack Diamond who looked second favourite to reach it was touched inside to Kyle Wooton who scored from 8 yards out and County were level on 49 minutes.

Another long range effort from Carlisle, this time Mellish found the County upright and a spot of goal mouth ping pong ensued but County cleared. On 53 minutes Jay Mingi was replaced by a trialist (21) Another Carlisle corner resulted in a free header for the home side but no goal ensued.

A promising break from County saw Barry on a charge with Odin Bailey supplying the final touch that was comfortably held by Lewis in the home goal. A long punt by Ben found Kyle Wooton who put Callum Camps in but the home side were able to defend and eventually gained themselves a throw. A break by Wooton found Barry but a good tackle from Hayden ended that move. Jayden Fevrier rode three tackles as he homed in on the Carlisle goal albeit at an angle but Harry Lewis saved well. 

County then made  changes as trialist's 4 and 5 went off and Rhys Watson and Nathaniel Mapengu came on. Carlisle rang the changes as well with Kelly replacing skipper Wyke. Ben Barclay put in a good cross but Luke Armstrong was unable to finish for the home side. A foul on Jack Diamond who was having a far more productive second half resulted in a free kick that came to nothing. 

On the 68th minute a long throw from Ben Barclay was not cleared and Luke Armstrong had a relatively simple task of hooking in from 3 yards out. 

Louie Barry and  Jack Diamond both toiled away with little reward, Louie was substituted by Che Gardner as was Callum Camps for Cody Johnson on 70 minutes. Given the changes to both sides the game lost a little momentum. Further changes saw Vela off and Butterworth on for Carlisle at the 75 minute mark. On 80 minutes a miscue from Ben presented a decent chance for Carlisle to increase their lead but nothing came of it. County continued to probe although any crosses that they managed to deliver found no takers and the game started to peter out. The only notable comments I made at this point was that Cody Johnson was looking very much like the player we know and looked confident in the middle of the park. 

As the game reached its final stages County should have been presented with a chance for an equaliser when a ball punted into the Carlisle penalty area was clearly handled. The argument may have been ball to hand but if anybody witnessed the penalty Blackburn were given on Friday night this was probably more of a penalty than that. Mr Mather saw nothing wrong and follow up play from Fevrier and Gardner did not trouble the Carlisle goal. 86 minutes saw Davies off and Ellis on for Carlisle.

County spurned a couple of late chances to square the game through Fevrier and Garner and after adding on 2 minutes time Mr Mather concluded matters. 

Good minutes for Louie Barry and Jay Mingi. Full 90minutes for Ben, Woots, Diamond, Bailey and Fevrier. No apparent injuries against a strong full strenght Carlisle side.

Teams:

Stockport    Ben Hinchliffe, Jay Mingi (Trialist 21) Ibby Touray, Trialist 4 (Rhys Watson) Trialist 5 (Nathaniel Mapengu, Jack Diamond, Callum Camps (Cody Johnson) Jayden Fevrier, Odin Bailey, Kyle Wooton, Louie Barry (Che Gardner)

Carlisle      Lewis, Davies ( Ellis) Harper, Thomas, Hayden, Wyke (Kelly) Adu-Adjei, Vela (Butterworth) Neal, Mcgeough (Barclay) Mellish 

Referee  Simon Mather

Attendance 1880 (120 away)

Adrian Caville