Workington Reds 0 Carlisle United 3: Jack Ellis, Alfie McCalmont and Jordan Gibson fired Carlisle to victory in their pre-season clash at Borough Park.

United had too much for Danny Grainger's Reds in a rainswept 90 minutes in west Cumbria.

Wing-back Ellis volleyed the Blues ahead in fine style in the first half before finishes in quick second-half succession from midfielders McCalmont and Gibson increased the lead.

United could have extended the margin further on a day they involved trialist keeper Dan Langley for a third time in pre-season.

Workington's best chances came via Lewis Reilly but the hosts were well marshalled by Paul Simpson's side in front of a 1,523 crowd.

Carlisle's latest signing Dan Butterworth was not involved in the squad a day after his move on a two-year deal.

But the former Blackburn Rovers attacker was still at Borough Park to do some fitness work before the game.

Kai Nugent, meanwhile, missed out with injury, the young midfielder wearing a protective boot on his left foot as he watched the game, while trialist forward Stephen Walker was also not involved.

Simpson gave another chance to ex-Newcastle United keeper Langley while Workington handed a first outing for new loan signing Kofi Moore and ex-Carlisle youth keeper Lewis Boyd started in a trial outing.

The game began after a minute's applausein memory of Reds legend Billy Griffin and the late former United coach David Wilkes.

The opening stages saw few clear-cut chances as Carlisle had the better of things without carving Grainger's side open.

McCalmont tested home keeper Boyd early on as the Reds trialist smothered a low long-range shot.

A smart Gibson turn almost put Ryan Edmondson in before Sam Smith couldn't make the most of a back-post header at the other end.

Owen Moxon cleared the bar from the edge of the box for Carlisle after Ellis and McCalmont pounced on a loose Reds pass.

Then, as Workington grew more into things, a clever dummy from Kofi Moore allowed Reilly to shoot from 25 yards, but the Reds frontman pulled his attempt wide.

Gibson almost responded with a United opener but his shot was blocked by Finlay Wallbank, before one of a series of Moxon corners almost set up Jack Armer at the far post.

United then finally did break the deadlock in the 35th minute, and they did so in style as Armer's cross was left by Edmondson and the arriving Ellis met it with a powerful volley that gave Boyd no chance.

It was a good way for the wing-back to end a week when he signed a new two-year contract.

Edmondson then nearly forced another when he pressed Smith into an underhit pass, but keeper Boyd was alert to the danger.

And moments later Edmondson rose to power an Armer header just over the Reds bar as Carlisle ended the half well on top.

Reds, who had to replace Scott Allison with Obua Mugalula late in the half, then replaced impressive 17-year-old Lewis Moore with Ceiran Casson at the break, while Jayden Harris took Moxon's place in the Blues midfield.

United then took just three second-half minutes to double their lead in well-worked fashion.

Gibson fed the overlapping Jon Mellish, his shot was saved by Boyd and McCalmont was first to the rebound to fire high into the net from close range.

And Carlisle kept up the pressure, making it three in the 53rd minute when Gibson hit the right-hand post before receiving the ball straight back from Ellis and, with his second attempt, driving a low shot across Boyd and into the bottom corner.

Simpson then made eight changes on the hour mark, with only Mellish and Gibson remaining on to complete the full game which was being played in increasingly torrential conditions.

One of the new arrivals, Jack Robinson, failed to make the most of a good Harris cut-back, while a rare Reds opening saw Reilly volley straight at Blues sub Tomas Holy.

Workington played some promising football in second-half stages without truly threatening United. Home sub Mugalula then had to go off injured, replaced by trialist and ex-Blues man Connor Hammell as Hayden Tait also came on for Smith.

Boyd had to get down well to prevent Joe Garner adding a Carlisle fourth, before Robinson, Max Kilsby and Harris had late attempts blocked by some last-ditch Workington defending.

Workington: Trialist, Roxburgh (Lester 85), Leslie, Wallbank (Webster 85), Smith (Tait 74), L Moore (Casson 46), K Moore, Carroll (Martin 85), Allison (Mugalula 40, Trialist 74), Reilly, Tinnion (McCaragher 57).

United: Trialist (Holy 59), Lavelle (Kilsby 59), Huntington (Whelan 59), Mellish, Ellis (Barclay 59), Armer (Robinson 59), Moxon (Harris 46), Guy (McGeouch 59), McCalmont (Charters 59), Gibson, Edmondson (Garner 59).

Goals: Ellis 35, McCalmont 48, Gibson 53.

Ref: Anthony Backhouse.

Crowd: 1,523.