Penrith 1-4 Carlisle United: Dudik scores in county cup tie

The new Ukrainian signing netted United’s second goal either side of two Jayden Harris efforts and a Jake Allan strike at Penrith.

DJ Taylor grabbed a consolation goal for the hosts but it was a United side full of senior pros who reached the last four of the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup.

Dudik, 19, played 70 minutes after Carlisle secured international clearance for the player who signed a short-term deal last week.

He provided a neat finish in the 38th minute to start his United career on a successful note.

Carlisle named a side full of professionals, with ten members of Paul Simpson’s first-team squad starting and Aran Fitzpatrick – named captain – the only youth team player in the XI.

Loan defender Sean Grehan made his first Blues appearance while Terry Ablade was in the side for his first outing since November after injury, Fin Back and Ben Barclay also getting much-needed game time after their recent returns.

Harris and Max Kilsby, after returning from loan spells were in the side as were Tomas Holy, Dylan McGeouch and Taylor Charters, to face a Penrith side in good home form in Northern League Division One.

Simpson watched from the Main Stand as Carlisle survived an early Penrith attack which saw Holy save from Luke Hunter.

At the other end Dudik saw a header from a Charters corner blocked, as United steadily dominated possession, McGeouch often dictating play in midfield and Grehan stepping in from the right of central defensive three, as Harris tried to drive forward.

Penrith had strong claims for a penalty when Back challenged Matty Moynan in the air just inside the box, but referee Kevin Mulraine ignored the home appeals.

Anton Dudik in action against Penrith (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Darren Edmondson’s side forced half-chances for Hunter and DJ Taylor, but Carlisle then took control with the opener on 25 minutes, McGeouch robbing Nick Holden in the Penrith half, feeding Ablade to the right and the Fulham loanee squaring across the box for Harris, who sidefooted into the bottom corner.

Dudik failed to control an Ablade cross in a useful position minutes later but, on 38 minutes, the 19-year-old did get on the scoresheet.

First, Charters saw a free-kick go into the wall but Carlisle kept things alive and worked it right to Back, whose cross picked out the Ukrainian who had peeled into space and he converted a tidy first-time finish.

There was nearly a third before the break but Back couldn’t finish a dangerous Fitzpatrick cross at the back post.

United brought on youth teamer Allan for Back at half-time, Grehan going on to head a Charters corner wide before Hunter tried to reply for Penrith but sent his shot too high.

DJ Taylor, the former Carlisle youth winger, tested Kilsby and forced Grehan to clear, before a double Penrith change saw Jack Peile and Liam Delaney introduced, while Romeo Park came on for Ablade for the visitors.

A dangerous Peile cross went unrewarded for Edmondson’s side, who had a good second-half spell, but saw their deficit then increase when Allan’s cross found Dudik, whose lay-off to Harris was followed by a powerful low finish from the midfielder from 20 yards.

The hosts did, though, then hit back when DJ Taylor produced an impressive finish from the left of goal against his former club.

Dudik was then replaced with 20 minutes to go, Robbie Swinburn taking his place, as an Allan cross almost forced a Carlisle fourth and then Hunter saw a Penrith volley blocked.

Hunter and DJ Taylor were denied as they broke into the United box with ten minutes remaining, but a fourth Blues goal then came three minutes from time when sub Romeo Park fed his fellow under-18 player and Allan sprinted clear to beat Taylor with a deft finish to round off the scoring.

Penrith: A Taylor, Hebson (Peile 60), Coombe, Morrey, Irving, Moynan (c), Grandison, Holden, Shields (Delaney 60), Hunter, DJ Taylor. Not used: Mitchinson, Newton, Gordon.

Goal: DJ Taylor 71.

United: Holy, Back (Allan 46), Grehan, Barclay, Kilsby, Fitzpatrick (c), Harris, McGeouch, Charters, Ablade (Park 61), Dudik (Swinburn 70). Not used: Hetherington, O'Brien.

Goals: Harris 25, 68; Dudik 38, Allan 87.

Ref: Kevin Mulraine.