A brace from Charlie Wyke helped secure victory in United’s second pre-season fixture.
Summer signing Terell Thomas opened his account for the Blues on 17 minutes after rising highest from a Taylor Charters corner.
Before Charlie Wyke added Carlisle’s second and third within six minutes of each other in the second-half, showing great composure in front of goal on both occasions.
The first opportunity of the contest came on three minutes. Taylor Charters’ free-kick was flicked on by Harrison Neal, but a teammate was unable to get on the end of it.
United continued to push for the opener as Jon Mellish found himself free down the left as we approached the 10-minute mark, before his low cross towards youngster Sam Hetherington was cleared.
Moments later, Mellish was looking to be creator once again, this time successfully finding a rising Dan Butterworth, whose header was straight at the ‘keeper.
Kendal attacker Matt Dudley looked to create the hosts’ first chance on the counter on 15 minutes, which ultimately ended in a free-kick to the Blues following a foul on debutant shot-stopper Jude Smith.
Carlisle took the lead on 17 minutes. Charters’ corner was met at the front post by Terell Thomas, who powered home a header to break the deadlock.
Smith was forced into his first stop of the contest three minutes later after Bailey Kenny took aim from distance.
Cheetham made a brilliant low save on 22 minutes, turning away Jon Mellish’s drive from the left for a corner, which came to nothing.
Hetherington looked to double Carlisle’s lead as we came towards the half-hour mark, but after doing so well to win the ball back, his effort flew wide of Kendal’s right-hand post.
New man Archie Davies came to the rescue soon after, clearing the danger as the hosts looked to counter.
Goalscorer Thomas lofted a ball over the top to Butterworth as we edged closer to the interval, but Cheetham was alert and claimed the ball on the edge of his box.
Luke Armstrong looked certain to extend United’s lead with nine minutes of the first-half remaining. The chance came following an outstanding bit of work from defender Ben Barclay to carry the ball right into the hosts’ area.
Cheetham stood strong for his side once again in the final few minutes of the first period, beating away Butterworth’s powerful effort.
HALF-TIME: Kendal Town 0-1 United
United’s fresh eleven for the second-half looked to add to Carlisle's goal tally immediately. Cameron Harper drove down the left before looking to find young forward Freddie O’Donoghue in the centre of Kendal’s box, but the linesman flagged for half-time.
Five minutes into the second 45, Jack Ellis carried the ball down the right, before sending a ball into the area and Charlie Wyke looked to connect, but his effort went over the crossbar.
O’Donoghue almost added the Blues’ second following a loose back pass from Kendal. The attacker then had a second go in front of goal which came off the post to the relief of everyone in black and white stripes.
The aforementioned youngster came close again moments later. Dylan McGeouch’s through ball found Ethan Robson on the left, prior to the midfielder hammering a ball across the box which was unable to find a teammate.
The hosts had a great chance to level the contest on 65 minutes following a loose pass from Aaron Hayden at the back, but Sam Lavelle was there to sweep up the danger.
Charlie Wyke added United’s second on 67 minutes. Jake Allan showed great power to drive inside from the left and the ball found its way to Wyke, who made no mistake from point-blank range.
Six minutes later, he added United’s third and his second of the night. He received the ball to the left of goal, before rolling into the far corner beyond a helpless Cheetham.
The Blues continued to assert their dominance in the closing stages - Charlie Wyke looked to have completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes following a Josh Vela cross from the right, but it was deemed offside.
FULL-TIME: Kendal Town 0-3 United
Teams:
Kendal Town - Cheetham (86’ Lee), Russell (74’ Thornley), Thomas (74’ Turton), Kenny, Holden (80’ Wilson), Stanley, Dickson (76’ Marques), Cowperthwaite (C) (60’ Wilson), Bailey (71’ Pinington), Dudley (80’ Clarke), Palmer (76’ McDonald)
Carlisle United (first-half) - Smith, Davies, Thomas, Butterworth, Charters, Neal, Mellish (C), Barclay, Fitzpatrick, Armstrong, Hetherington
Carlisle United (second-half) - Breeze, Lavelle, Hayden ©, Robson, Wyke, Vela, Ellis, Harper, McGeouch, Allan, O’Donoghue
Match officials:
Referee - Mike Crusham
Attendance:
651
