Chorley FC 1-1 Carlisle United: Harris scores as Blues toil

Midfielder Harris gave United the lead with a well-worked effort in the 40th minute.

But Justin Johnson levelled for Chorley early in the second half soon after Jack Sampson had missed a penalty.

And victory would not have flattered Andy Preece's lively National League North side, who examined the Blues in both halves.

Harris had a chance of another goal for Carlisle while Joe Garner was denied a penalty shout, but Paul Simpson's side failed to impress on a night Owen Moxon - following 24 hours of transfer speculation - came on as a 66th minute substitute.

Moxon, the subhect of a reported bid from Blackpool, was on the bench for United's penultimate friendly, as Simpson gave another start to trialist keeper Dan Langley whilst also involving a number of players who did not start the previous friendly against Newcastle's Under-21s.

Recent signing Dan Butterworth got a start but Fin Back was not involved in the squad a day after sealing his return to the Blues on loan, though he took part in the warm-up and did some running drills on the pitch before the game.

Also not involved were Tomas Holy, Paul Huntington and Sam Lavelle, as young keeper Gabe Breeze and youth defender Jake Allan stepped up to the squad.

With Moxon also among the substitutes, things got under way with a big chance for Chorley inside the first minute, as Will Tomlinson sent Johnson clear of the Blues defence.

But the frontman pulled his shot wide of Langley's net.

Big striker Sampson was dominant aerially in the opening stages as United struggled to make an early impact on the game.

Garner almost set up Taylor Charters with a header while Harris shot over on the break, but Chorley looked to punish Carlisle errors as Sampson, pouncing on a loose Charters pass, chipped Langley and just missed the target from distance.

United were sloppy on the ball at times as Preece's hosts pressed hungrily, while at the other end Butterworth rifled a cross out of Garner's reach.

Dan Butterworth in action for Carlisle (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Chorley again put United under pressure with the Blues' struggle to clear a long throw resulting in a powerful Tomlinson shot that cleared the bar.

And they almost broke through again when Harvey Smith attacked a free header from a corner and saw his finish blocked on the line.

Carlisle felt they should have had a penalty when Garner went down in the box, but moments later they made the breakthrough when Charters advanced towards the box before slotting Harris in to his right, and the midfielder finishing clinically past Urwin.

The lead flattered the Blues somewhat but was a reward for their best move of the half as they went in 1-0 up at the break.

Chorley brought on ex-Carlisle man Mark Ellis as a defensive trialist at the break, and were soon back in the game.

They were awarded a penalty early in the second half when Garner was ruled to have handled, only for Sampson to hit the crossbar with his spot-kick.

But a minute later the equaliser came in impressive style when Johnson sped away from Corey Whelan to the left of the box before finishing neatly past Langley.

This heralded another strong Chorley spell as Carlisle struggled to hurt their non-league hosts, Harris denied by Urwin after a one-two but plenty more danger downfield, not least when Sampson tested Langley's reflexes at his near post.

Simpson then sent on Moxon as part of a triple change which also involved keeper Breeze and youth defender Allan, with Jordan Gibson also coming on shortly after.

Tomlinson failed to get his head on a tempting Chorley cross with 20 minutes to go, more substitutions following for both sides including Ryan Edmondson for Garner for the last ten minutes.

Moxon cleared the bar from the edge of the box while Cian Spencer-McDermott wasted a good chance for Chorley, who applied plenty more pressure later on, Carlisle struggling to fashion anything more themselves on an underwhelming night in Lancashire.

Chorley: Urwin, Henley (Scarborough 76), Blakeman, Smith, Wilson (Trialist 46), Nolan, Tomlinson (Trialist 76), Calveley (Shenton 56), Johnson (Ubaezuono 66), Whitehouse (Hazelhurst 56), Sampson (Spencer-McDermott 76). Not used: Green.  

Goal: Johnson 50. 

United: Langley (Breeze 66), Barclay, Whelan, Kilsby, Ellis (Allan 66), Robinson, Harris, McGeouch, Charters (Moxon 66), Butterworth (Gibson 70), Garner (Edmondson 79). Not used: Armer, Guy, McCalmont, Mellish. 

Goal: Harris 40. 

Booked: Harris. 

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