United progressed to the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup Final following victory against Whitehaven Miners Social on Tuesday night.
Alfie McCalmont, Sean Maguire and Dan Butterworth bagged hat-tricks, with Fin Back securing a brace, before Jayden Harris and Jack Robinson netted in our win at Brunton Park.
The Blues came flying out the traps, applying constant pressure on the Whitehaven backline and it was Sean Maguire who forced visiting shot-stopper Andrew Monaghan into his first save, following an effort from outside the box.
Carlisle would break the deadlock on eight minutes. The ball found its way through to our skipper on the night, McCalmont, who powered home at the back post to give us an early lead.
Four minutes later, Back would double our advantage after arriving into the area unmarked, and the defender slotted our second into the back of the net following a pass from Harris.
Robinson was denied soon after. The left-back fired an effort on goal from close range but Monaghan made a brilliant save.
On 16 minutes, Butterworth made it 3-0 to United. The forward received the ball on the edge of the Whitehaven area, before spinning his man and finding the bottom corner.
Maguire got in on the act a few minutes later as he received the ball at the back stick, before sending a powerful effort into the roof of the visitors’ net to make it 4-0.
Our latest scorer became provider three minutes later, as Maguire squared the ball across the box to Butterworth, who netted his second and Carlisle’s fifth of the evening.
On 28 minutes, Carlisle almost had another, this time through Harris but defender Robbie Wilkinson managed to block his goalbound effort at the vital moment.
As we entered the final ten minutes of the first-half, Monaghan produced another top save to prevent Butterworth finding another goal following an effort from inside the box.
McCalmont was next to bag his brace on 36 minutes. United’s number 10 drove into the Whitehaven area, before unleashing a fine strike into the far corner, beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
Back came close to finding another as we entered the closing stages of the first-half, but his shot went over the crossbar
Half-time: Carlisle United 7-0 Whitehaven Miners Social
Youngster Aran Fitzpatrick entered the fray at the start of the second-half, replacing Josh Emmanuel.
Back, who had been causing problems all night, came close to his second once again as McCalmont looked to deliver, but the midfielder’s cross was too heavy, and the right-back was unable to connect.
McCalmont completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes. Jayden Harris played a square ball across the box for the midfielder, whose perfectly timed run allowed him to fire home Carlisle’s eighth of the night.
Two minutes later, it was 9-0 and Sean Maguire had also completed his hat-trick after finding the back of the Whitehaven net from inside the box.
Back, who continued to threaten, secured his brace on 55 minutes after lashing low across goal to make it 10-0 to United.
The Blues’ dominance continued as they netted another only three minutes later and it was Dan Butterworth, making it a hat-trick of hat-tricks for the hosts.
The best save of the night came on the hour mark. Alfie McCalmont took aim from distance, before the ball was clawed out of the top corner brilliantly by Monaghan.
On 61 minutes, Butterworth whipped a venomous corner into the area and it was Sean Grehan who connected, but he was unable to steer his header on target.
Maguire exited the action soon after and was replaced by young forward Anton Dudik, who instantly forced Whitehaven’s ‘keeper into a smart stop.
The visitors had arguably their best opportunity on 72 minutes, but Lewis Park and Brett Smith were unable to cause any issue to Tomas Holy in the Carlisle goal.
The hosts would find another on 73 minutes, and it was Jayden Harris who fired home from close range after a Butterworth corner.
Our final switch of the night saw young defender Jake Allan replace Ben Barclay.
On 81 minutes, Robinson saw his effort fly over the bar, before bagging the final goal of the night in second-half stoppage time after turning home a Back delivery.
Full-time: Carlisle United 13-0 Whitehaven Miners Social
Goals
Carlisle United: (McCalmont 8’, 36’, 50’), (Back 12’, 54’), (Butterworth 16’, 21’, 57’), (Maguire 18’, 32’, 52’), (Harris 73’), (Robinson 90+2’)
Whitehaven Miners Social: N/A
Bookings
Carlisle United: N/A
Whitehaven Miners Social: N/A
Teams
Carlisle United: Holy, Back, Robinson, Emmanuel (Fitzpatrick 46’), Barclay (Allan 76’), Grehan, Harris, McGeough, Maguire (Dudik 63’), McCalmont ©, Butterworth
Unused subs: Barry, O’Brien
Whitehaven Miners Social: Monaghan, Woodend, Wilkinson, Doran, Sparks, Cardy ©, O’Pray, McNally (Davies 77’), Thursby (Smith 52’), Park, Lightfoot (Parr 52’)
Unused subs: Moore, Newbury
Match Officials
Referee: Matthew Rogerson
Assistant Referee 1: Jim Halliday
Assistant Referee 2: Cameron Sealby
Attendance: 530