Carlisle United teenager Kai Nugent made a brilliant impact for Workington Reds on his first start for the club.

The Blues youth midfielder embarked on a superb run to set up Scott Allison for Reds' second goal in their 3-1 win at Runcorn Linnets.

Nugent, who is on a work experience loan with Danny Grainger's side, cut in from the right and evaded challenges before running onto a return pass and squaring for Allison to tap in.

The 17-year-old's eyecatching display earned him high praise from manager Grainger after the NPL West game.

“I thought he was great all day long and a credit to himself, in a tough, tough game,” Grainger said in a club interview.

“He got himself an assist and did fantastically all through the game.”

The teenage Blues midfielder also picked up a yellow card in the second half as Grainger’s side claimed an excellent away-day victory.

Nugent was replaced after 70 minutes as the west Cumbrians earned the points thanks to goals from Conor Tinnion, Allison and Reuben Jerome.

Reds are third in the table after defeating their fifth-placed hosts, and remain firmly in the promotion hunt.

Also from the loan ranks, United winger Lewis Bell went up against Celtic’s rising stars in his latest outing for loan club Gretna 2008.

But the young Blues man ended up on the losing side as the Parkhead prospects ran out winners.

Gretna, with Bell in their starting line-up, took the lead against Celtic B thanks to an early Michael Mbewe goal.

But the home side were quickly back on terms through Mackenzie Carse.

The Lowland League game, played at Airdrie, then saw Celtic pull clear with Joey Dawson putting them ahead before the break.

Dawson added another from the penalty spot on the hour to give Darren O’Dea’s side a 3-1 victory.

Gretna sit 17th in the table, with Celtic B fourth.

Also north of the border, Max Kilsby got his latest start for Annan Athletic in their clash with promotion rivals Stirling Albion.

The young Blues defender was in Peter Murphy’s side as they went into a 2-0 lead at Galabank thanks to goals from Aidan Smith - who became the club's record SPFL goalscorer in the process - and Tony Wallace, after Stirling had Blair Currie sent off early on.

But the ten-man visitors fought back after the break and earned a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Kieran Moore and Ross McGeachie.

Kilsby played the full 90 minutes in his 20th league outing for Annan, who remain third in Scottish League Two, ten points behind second-placed Stirling.

Of United’s other pros out on loan, striker Sam Fishburn was an unused substitute for Morpeth Town as they went down to a 4-2 defeat at Marine in Northern Premier League Premier Division.

There was no loan outing for United youth midfielder Dan Hill with Cleator Moor Celtic this weekend, as their home game against Nelson was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.