Max Kilsby had a watching brief as his loan spell with Queen of the South got under way.
The young Carlisle United defender was named among the substitutes for their clash with Hamilton Academical.
Manager Marvin Bartley did not turn to Kilsby during the game as the Doonhamers went down to a 2-0 defeat at Palmerston Park.
Kilsby, 20, has joined the Dumfries outfit until the end of the season after a spell with Annan Athletic.
Second-half goals from Lewis Smith and Kevin O’Hara consigned Queens to defeat as they slipped to seventh in Scottish League One.
In the same division, Kai Nugent got his latest start for Annan Athletic as Peter Murphy’s side suffered a home defeat.
The 18-year-old Blues player made his 13th appearance for the Galabankies, who went down 3-2 at home to Alloa Athletic.
Aidan Smith gave Annan an early lead but Bobby Wales’ brace overhauled them and Taylor Steven hit another for Alloa before Dominic Docherty’s late reply, Nugent also collecting a yellow card.
Murphy’s men remain second bottom.
In the Northern Premier League Premier Division, three Blues youth team players were involved for Workington Reds at Hyde United.
Sam Hetherington made his latest start while Aran Fitzpatrick was also in the XI and Jake Allan was on the bench having also linked up with Danny Grainger’s squad on a work experience deal.
Hetherington played the first 76 minutes before being replaced by his fellow Carlisle teenager Allan, while Fitzpatrick played the full game.
Reds went down to a 2-0 defeat with ex-United frontman Lewis Alessandra scoring the first goal for Hyde before being replaced by former Carlisle team-mate Manasse Mampala.
In Northern League Division One, Romeo Park helped in-form Carlisle City chalk up a fifth straight win.
Romeo Park, on a works experience loan from @officialcufc made his full debut yesterday pic.twitter.com/PxclQVf3rq
— Carlisle City FC Official (@CarlisleCityFC) February 4, 2024
The youth team forward was handed his first start for Jim Nichols’ side as they defeated Newcastle Benfield 3-1 at the Three Rivers Health & Safety Consultancy Stadium.
Rob McCartney’s brace and a Jack Dickinson goal secured the points for City, Park substituted in the closing stages as Nichols’ men moved up to fifth.
A number of ex-Blues were in the thick of the weekend action, meanwhile.
Jarrad Branthwaite was Everton’s hero with a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Jarrad Branthwaite is congratulated after his dramatic goal (Image: PA)
The defender headed home an injury-time free-kick for his first goal of the season at Goodison Park.
Goalkeepers James Trafford and Dean Henderson had mixed fortunes, Trafford’s Burnley drawing 2-2 with Fulham but Henderson’s Crystal Palace thrashed 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion.
In the Championship, Callum O’Hare gave Coventry City the lead at Norwich City before the hosts hit back to win 2-1.
League One saw an 84th-minute debut for substitute Owen Moxon in Portsmouth’s 4-1 home win over a Northampton Town side that included fellow Cumbrian Patrick Brough.
In League Two, Elliot Watt got Salford City’s second goal direct from a corner as they defeated Wrexham 3-1, Jack Marriott coming off the bench for his debut for the visitors.
A first Barrow goal for Cole Stockton was enough to give the south Cumbrians all three points with a 1-0 win over MK Dons, the promotion-chasing Bluebirds moving up to third.
Joe Garner made his debut for Oldham Athletic in the National League as they drew 0-0 at Ebbsfleet United.
Angelo Balanta hit the winner for Boreham Wood as they won 1-0 at Woking.
Chris Beech’s AFC Fylde enjoyed a 3-1 win at Dorking Wanderers to continue their resurgence with a fourth victory in five games which took them out of the relegation zone. Nick Anderton is assistant head coach to Beech.
🗣️ The gaffers reflection on today's win.#BornToBeFylde
— AFC Fylde (@AFCFylde) February 3, 2024
Brennan Dickenson was handed his Hartlepool United debut as the Monkey Hangers won 2-1 at Bromley.
Former Blues trialist Kwame Thomas hit the decisive goal as Aldershot Town won 2-1 at FC Halifax Town.
In National League North, George Glendon was on target for Chester in their 1-1 draw with Banbury.
Another former Blues trialist was the matchwinner for Warrington Town as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts earned them a 2-1 win over Chorley.
In Northern Premier League Premier Division, ex-United trialist Junior Mondal was among the goals for Whitby Town as they won 3-0 against Basford United.
Guisborough Town’s third goal in their 3-0 win at Penrith in Northern League Division One was claimed by ex-Carlisle United youth player Jason Blackburn.
Former Blues trialist Lawrence Shankland hit two for Hearts as they won 3-2 at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
Gretna’s 6-0 win at Lochmaben in the Potts Cup quarter-final included a goal from ex-Carlisle United youth player and former Workington Reds man Hayden Tait.
Ryan Edmondson’s first start for Central Coast Mariners in Australia’s A-League proved a successful one as his new side won 4-0 at Adelaide United, the former Blues striker playing the first 80 minutes against a home side that included Zach Clough.
On the international scene, Gethin Jones’ hopes of Asia Cup glory were ended as Australia were beaten 2-1 by South Korea in the quarter-finals, Jones not in the Socceroos squad for the game after injury.
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