United went across to the Academy of Light on Wednesday afternoon with a mix of development players, first year scholars and schoolboys to face a Sunderland U17 side in a friendly fixture.
Academy boss Darren Edmondson said: “It was a fixture Sunderland originally wanted to play a few weeks ago but we put it back until after the season started because we knew we would have some first years who would need game time.
“It also gave Jack Egan, Jordan Holt and Morgan Bacon a chance to have a run out, as well as a few of the schoolboys who’ve been training with us while they’ve been on school holidays.
“We might try and get another fixture like it in the next few weeks so that we can keep tabs on our 16-year-olds, because there are some good players we want to keep a close eye on.
“It was a decent game, played at the right tempo, and it was good of Sunderland to invite us over there. The Academy of Light is a great place to play a game so the lads will have enjoyed it.”
The Cumbrians ran out as 7-1 winners with goals from McCarron (2), Kerr (2), Egan, Holt, and under-16 player Jack McNally.