Carlisle United defender assessed after cup final injury

The Cumbrian defender had to go off after just 15 minutes of last night’s Fred Conway Cumberland Cup final defeat to Workington Reds.

Assistant manager Gavin Skelton, speaking after the 1-0 defeat at Borough Park, admitted it was a “worry”.

“It’s a bit of a concern when he puts his hand up and wants to come off like that,” said Skelton.

“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious but when someone comes off that early it is a worry. He’ll be in early [today] and will get assessed.”

The 20-year-old’s withdrawal could now make him a doubt for United’s last game of the League One season at Derby County on Saturday.

His early substitution featured in a game when a Carlisle XI which mixed youth and experience failed to impress against Workington.

• Reaction: Grainger delighted by Workington Reds' cup win over Carlisle United

Six professionals were named in the side for the county senior cup final, with Jordan Gibson involved and keeper Tomas Holy making what’s likely to be a swansong appearance.

Jayden Harris, Josh Emmanuel and Anton Dudik also figured from the first-team ranks, alongside a number of youth players.

Skelton admitted United were short in the final third as Scott Allison’s goal earned NPL Premier side Reds the trophy – costing Carlisle the chance of some silverware to end an otherwise miserable season.

“It was a tight game – we expected a tight game and one goal was always probably going to edge it,” said the coach.

United keeper Tomas Holy, on what could prove his last outing for the club, can only watch as Scott Allison scores the winner for Workington (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“We had a lot of possession, but in the final third I can only recall two or three times we came close. There were a lot of blocked shots, Danny Eccles made a good save from Sam Hetherington, Anton Dudik had half a chance but Workington always looked dangerous on the break and we can have no complaints with the result.

“We got into some really good areas, but it’s the next pass, the next touch – we didn’t make the most of that. Perhaps when we didn’t score early we got a little bit anxious.”

Reds scored their winner on the hour mark moments after Dudik had failed to convert a good chance following a bright run from Harris.

“There was some really good play to get in there. Anton’s learning his trade and couldn’t quite capitalise on it, and there are experienced players at the other end – Dav Symington with a good ball and Scott Allison’s scored his [156th] goal for Workington,” said Skelton.

• Match report: Workington Reds get better of Carlisle United in county cup final

“That’s hard at any level, and it wins them the game. After that we huffed and puffed without really threatening and they looked dangerous on the break.”

Asked why United struggled to create serious chances after Workington’s goal, the Blues No2 said: “Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition, they got bodies behind the ball and we lacked that spark, creativity, whatever it was, that final touch to really work the keeper.

“We didn’t get enough bodies in the box and capitalise on good moments.”

Asked how disappointing things were overall given the number of pros on the pitch, Skelton preferred to discuss the efforts of some of United’s youth players.

“I felt the young lads performed well. Sam Hetherington has benefited from his loan, we got some first years on the pitch, and that’s a good experience from them, to play in a cup final against players who’ve played at a good level, so they see the minimum standards they have to make, in front of a crowd,” he said.