FRIENDLY: Blyth 0 - 1 United

Updates from the Tuesday evening friendly

United kicked off their pre-season fixture programme with a trip to face Blyth Spartans over in the north east. 

United first half: Gillespie, Miller, Raynes, Atkinson, Grainger, Thompson, Dicker, Dombaxe, Logan, Hill, Ibehre.

United second half: Hanford, McQueen, Pappoe, Meppen-Walter, Brough, Osei, Sweeney, Francis (Hammell 78), Kearns, N Asamoah (Beck 78), Rigg. 

Attendance - 626

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4 - First chance of the night fell to United as Dombaxe was played in to a good area on the edge of the box. He let fly but his shot whisked just over the bar.

7 - Dale rode two challenges and made the byline to cut the ball back, and Hooks was there to pounce on the rebound as United tried to clear. He caught it too well and blazed it high into the sky.

8 to 30 mins - A very tight period with little in the way of goalmouth action. Carlisle dominated possession but Blyth showed in flashes as they tried to work the ball forward. 

34 - United worked their way into a great position with touches from Hill and Ibehre. Dombaxe measured his shot as he tried to curl it into the top corner. Thomson was equal to it with a one-handed diving save.

39 - Grainger delivered a lovely cross and the unmarked Gethyn Hill had time on his side as he rose to meet it just 10 yards out. He wheeled away in disappointment as he guided his header wide of the upright.

40 - Ibehre ran onto a ball over the top but his celebration was cut short as he found the back of the net just as the offside flag was raised.

45 - Thompson had space in the box as the ball dropped at his feet. He lost his bearings and scuffed a weak volley over the bar.

Half Time: Blyth 0 - 0 United

47 - Pappoe sent the ball long and Osei beat his man to cross low. Mullen cleared before Brough could strike.

51 - United grabbed a great goal when Kearns tricked his way to the byline and cut the ball back. Sweeney kept his eye on it and executed a perfect 20-yard volley which left the keeper with no chance.

57 - Sweeney released Kearns with a lovely pass. Another deep cross was put behind and Nana Asamoah and Meppen-Walter had stabs at the set piece delivery until it eventually dropped over the bar.

64 - Osei had a shot blocked, Rigg had a header cleared off the line and Sweeney was a whisker away from bagging his second as he crunched the loose ball over the bar from close range.

71 - Heart in the mouth time as a long ball had to be dealt with by Brough. He thumped it behind for a corner ... but it was close to finding the bottom corner with Hanford beaten.

74 - Thomson saved low from Rigg as a Brough cross ricocheted and left the striker with half a sight of goal.

84 - Osei was put clean through by Beck but the nippy front man tried to chip the keeper and could only poke it wide.

89 - Beck header cleared off the line as he went for the bottom corner with a placed attempt.

90 - Richardson broke through but Hanford saved at his near post from a powerful effort.
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