MacDonald earns reserves a point

Alex MacDonald - scored our goal

A starting eleven made up entirely of apprentices took to the field and there were even Centre of Excellence Under-16 players on the bench, but well done to them against a side with a number of players with first team experience.

Carlisle started off the better and took the lead but Burnley came back and fully deserved the equaliser just before half time when Alex MacDonald volleyed home from 25 yards. That led to a much better performance in the second half although we could so easily have gone behind again.

Goalkeeper Stef Ritchie was beaten just five minutes in but Adam Kay got back to clear off the line. At the other end our best chance fell to schoolboy Dominic Knowles who managed to get the ball round the keeper before a challenge came in as he was faced with an empty net.

All in all this was a good performance from this very young team and the reserves now just have one game left which is next Monday when we play Accrington Stanley.

Tonight's teams:

Carlisle:Chris Howarth, Jonny Blake, Zigor Aranalde, Darren Campion, Lewis Smith, Luke Joyce, Paul Thirlwell, Kevin Gall, Danny Carlton, Chris Fagan, Gavin Rothery. Subs: Grant Carson, Stephen Hindmarch, Matt Duffy, Andy Cook and John Seaton.

Burnley: Stef Ritchie, Dean Stott, Nik Kudiersky (Matt Lomas 75), Chris Lynch, Thomas Bradley, Lewis Craig, Chris Anderson, Adam Kay, James Craggs, Alex MacDonald (Dominic Knowles 64), Rob Turner. Subs not used: Dan MacDonald, Dil Chaggar, Oliver Devenney.