Big match verdict: Annan Athletic 1-2 Carlisle United

Anyway, that was Annan Athletic. It took Carlisle United, another side cresting a promotion wave, a while longer to get up to that sort of speed, but they got there in the end: a hallmark, in fact, of the way they rose last season.

In the first game since Wembley’s late fightback, there was a late fightback at Galabank. The circumstances could hardly have been different but Paul Simpson will have left Annan’s ground a little cheerier than he may have been at half-time.

At that stage Peter Murphy’s hosts had given the Blues a brisk reintroduction. Annan were value for the early lead earned by Josh Galloway’s breakaway goal, and in their sharp football and movement made United look what they were: a side only just feeling their way back into action.

A different XI in the second half changed the tone of this pre-season friendly. Carlisle were more urgent, pressed higher, got after Annan with some pleasing and belated intent, leading to late goals from Jack Armer and Stephen Walker, the latter one of two trialists on display here.

By and large, it was a fitness exercise, not a night for worrying about any tactical to-and-fros or the normal rustiness you get early in July. Annan, though, were amply good enough to make it much more than a workout.

Paul Simpson speaks to his players before the game at Annan (Image: Barbara Abbott)

The best of their play, in the first half, was a tribute to Murphy’s management and coaching, and the way a positive team has risen with him. Most of their XI were key to their promotion last term while it was encouraging to see the way a new recruit, Josh Dixon, performed in midfield.

His control, positioning and use of the ball offered echoes of why United invested 15 years in the Cumbrian, who deserves a real break now after so many serious injuries. Even those who turned up to Galabank wanting to see Annan beaten will have enjoyed seeing Dixon play like this.

For the team he has now left, this was the first step of the summer on the road to the third tier. Carlisle could, in the end, have won by more, denied by some inspired goalkeeping from Greg Fleming when they turned the screw after the break, and also cost a goal by one glaring miss by Ryan Edmondson.

Again, get that sort of thing out of the way early. Otherwise, there was intrigue in the debut of Sam Lavelle, a few hours after signing – he looked an immediately vocal defensive presence – and the second-half offerings of Walker, the former Middlesbrough attacker, and ex-Newcastle keeper Dan Langley at the other end.

Josh Galloway scores Annan's opener (Image: Barbara Abbott)

It was not a night for Dylan McGeouch, Friday’s other signing – he was training back at Brunton Park – but Lavelle’s presence offered freshness to otherwise familiar Carlisle ranks. United, watched by a good horde of Blues fans in their colourful new kits, started on the front foot, largely through Jordan Gibson, but in the ninth minute Annan sprung their defence as Galloway broke clear, drew Tomas Holy and finished confidently.

It was a strike the former Blues prospect will have enjoyed, and Annan settled into a sharp and composed game where they often proved United’s match. Carlisle did some good work with the ball, and got into some useful positions both centrally and out wide, but could not make enough happen in the 18-yard box, even as Romeo Park, the under-18 forward fresh from a youth team hat-trick, ran and competed willingly alongside Joe Garner in attack.

Murphy’s side, who start competitive action next Saturday, were attuned to their game and could have scored again when Tommy Goss peeled into space from a corner, but his screwed his shot wide. Behind the tall striker, Galloway, Aidan Smith and Chris Johnston offered eager attacking angles, Johnston drawing some last-ditch blocks on 20 minutes.

Annan's Josh Dixon, left, looks on as United's Romeo Park makes a pass (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Goss engaged Lavelle aerially, while for United, crosses went unrewarded and longer-range shots from Lavelle and Max Kilsby flew just wide and low into Fleming’s grasp respectively.

It was then onto the second half XI, and United much more on top, pressing with greater energy and forcing Annan back. Trialist Langley was called into action early on to stop a Johnston shot but mostly the direction of travel was the other way, Alfie McCalmont flickering with his skill, Edmondson heading a cross just wide and Ben Barclay warming Fleming’s gloves. 

The goalkeeper then excelled twice in keeping out McCalmont’s shot then showing superb reflexes to repel an Edmondson header.

Sam Lavelle on his debut (Image: Barbara Abbott)

It did, in truth, feel like a Carlisle goal was coming even as more avenues were eventually closed. First-year pro Kai Nugent was a particularly bright contributor, linking well with trialist Walker on the right, Jayden Harris rumbling a shot just wide after a McCalmont rabona, Owen Moxon imposing his class back on this familiar ground and, eventually, Annan prised open when Edmondson nodded Barclay’s cross into the arriving Armer’s path.

In went Carlisle’s first goal as a League One club since 2014, and it was followed by a winner from close-range at the very end, set up by Nugent and finished by Walker. A shade harsh on Annan, perhaps – but even in friendlies, you won’t find United apologising for getting the job done late.