After a battling display at Brunton Park, it was late heartbreak as Archie Whitehall netted the winner for the visitors deep into stoppage time.
Joseph Gardner opened the scoring, before Jake Allan equalised late on, rolling home a superb effort to the delight of the Blues’ faithful.
Despite being the better of the two teams in the second 45, Forest found a late winner on the counter attack courtesy of Archie Whitehall.
United had their first chance of the contest inside two minutes. Luke Armstrong latched onto a through ball, before forcing visiting ‘keeper Aaron Bott into a strong low save.
Moments later, Dylan McGeouch’s corner found Cameron Harper on the edge of the area, but his rushed effort flew off target.
As we approached the ten-minute mark, Forest’s U21s piled on the pressure, but were unable to find a way through.
On 13 minutes, Dan Adu-Adjei found himself through on goal, prior to setting up debutant Sam Hetherington, whose low attempt was blocked.
Nine minutes later, Adu-Adjei took on a chance himself after receiving the ball on the edge of the area - his effort was still unable to break the deadlock.
Gabe Breeze made a tremendous stop on 26 minutes after a Nottingham Forest attacker took aim at his near post. Should the ball have found the net, it wouldn’t have counted as the linesman flagged for offside.
On the half-hour mark, Joseph Gardner opened the scoring after his shot cannoned off the back of Jack Ellis, flying away from a helpless Breeze in United’s goal.
Forest came close to doubling their advantage moments later as they played some brilliant football down the left, but it ultimately ended in the shot being blocked by Ellis, who was so unfortunate moments earlier.
As we entered the closing stages of the first-half, Aaron Bott was alert to save efforts from both players on loan from Bournemouth, Dan Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi.
Cameron Harper made a much-needed block on the left shortly before the interval as former Carlisle man, Fin Back, looked to create an opening to find their second of the night.
HALF-TIME: United 0-1 Nottingham Forest U21
The Blues made two changes at the break, Harper and McGeouch made way, with Ben Williams and Freddie O’Donoghue replacing them - the latter earning his first team debut.
On 49 minutes, Sadi played a one-two with Hetherington from a free-kick, before hammering an effort into the side netting.
The hosts continued their pressure following the aforementioned chance with Ellis whipping a venomous ball into the path of Luke Armstrong, but despite having two swings at it, he was unable to find the net.
Newly-introduced Ben Williams sent a brilliant cross into the Forest area ten minutes into the second-half, which was met by Adu-Adjei, who guided his header over the crossbar.
Breeze was once again forced into action on 58 minutes, saving an attempt which was deemed offside by the linesman on the far side.
Carlisle continued to grow in confidence the longer the second-half went on. Jack Ellis’ delivery from the right found Williams at the far post, but the left-back was unable to convert an effort on target.
Soon after, Forest shot-stopper Bott came to his side’s rescue twice in quick succession, denying Armstrong on both occasions. The first being a good save at the near post, prior to making an outstanding stop in the centre of his goal after changing direction.
On 66 minutes, Armstrong was denied again, this time his shot flew beyond the goalkeeper and was blocked on the line by a retreating defender.
Williams delivered a free-kick which found Hetherington just outside the box on 71 minutes, the young midfielder then picked out Sadi, whose curled effort went agonisingly wide.
Aran Fitzpatrick - who had only entered the action one minute earlier - played a neat through ball into Sadi just left of centre, but he was unable to hit the target.
On 88 minutes, Jake Allan restored parity after drifting inside and rolling home superbly into the far corner - an outstanding moment for the 18-year-old!
But despite being the better of the two sides in the second-half, it would be late heartbreak for the Blues as substitute Archie Whitehall found the net deep into stoppage time.
FULL-TIME: United 1-2 Nottingham Forest U21
Teams:
Carlisle United - Breeze, Harper (46’ Williams), Lavelle © (83’ Allan), Adu-Adjei, Neal, Ellis, McGeouch (46’ O’Donoghue), Mellish, Sadi, Armstrong, Hetherington (77’ Fitzpatrick)
Unused subs - Lewis, Wyke, Dudik
Nottingham Forest U21 - Bott, Abbott, Back, Gardner (70’ Thompson), Powell, Perkins, Perry © (46’ Newton), Hammond, Nadin (84’ Whitehall), McAdam, Sinclair
Unused subs - Griffiths, Cahill, Brown, Modupe
Match officials:
Referee - James Westgate
Assistant Referee - Conor Brown
Assistant Referee - Mark Cunliffe
Fourth Official - Graeme Fyvie
Attendance:
1,102 (56 away)
