Workington Reds 0 Carlisle United 0: Carlisle were short of attacking inspiration as they were kept at bay by Workington in a goalless pre-season friendly at Borough Park.
The Blues, who lost new signing Cameron Harper midway through the first half, were left frustrated against Mark Fell’s hard-working Reds.
Luke Armstrong came closest in the second half when his close-range effort was scrambled off the line – while Steven Rigg missed a great chance to win it for Reds.
The result was a reward for Workington’s wholehearted efforts throughout as Mark Fell’s side denied Carlisle many clear-cut chances.
Sam Hetherington had the Blues’ best efforts before the break, with Armstrong coming close afterwards, but it was a United display that left plenty to be desired overall when it came to hurting their opponents in the final third.
Things got under way after a minute’s applause in memory of Andrew Jenkins, whose family were at Borough Park to see the teams, officials and supporters pay their respects.
Carlisle established a degree of control on the ball but were never allowed to be completely dominant by a well-organised Reds side who defended very solidly.
Reds' Greg McCaragher challenges United's Dan Butterworth (Image: Ben Holmes)
Dan Butterworth saw an early shot deflect wide as Workington coped with an opening sequence of United corners. Reds’ centre-backs, Steve Swinglehurst and the trialist Tom Wilkinson, were on hand to clear their lines while, at the other end, a left-sided raid from Dav Symington brought a shot against the side-netting.
Carlisle, with manager Paul Simpson watching from the stand, came close from a set-piece when Harper’s corner was headed off target by Sam Lavelle, and United continued to have plenty of the ball in the middle third without truly penetrating.
There was almost a gift for Fell’s Workington, but Ben Barclay scrambled back to deny Symington after a loose United pass. Wilkinson was then alert to dispossess the raiding Butterworth.
These Workington efforts tended to keep most of the danger in front of them, with keeper Alex Mitchell well protected and United lacking the creativity to supply Charlie Wyke, who captained the side.
Harper then had to go off in the 24th minute, Simpson later saying the summer signing was replaced as a precaution after feeling his groin. Aran Fitzpatrick took his place, as Carlisle continued to look for opportunities.
Two fell for Hetherington against his former loan club, first the teenager volleying a Jon Mellish cross just side, and later Hetherington blasting a shot narrowly over as he found more space in the box.
Carlisle dominated the ball as things went on, the lively Hetherington almost forcing another chance before Butterworth saw a shot blocked. Symington had a shot blocked by Dylan McGeouch for Reds and the goalless half-time score reflected the hosts’ fine work-rate and United’s lack of flair around the home side’s box.
Armstrong replaced Wyke at the break and the substitute was soon denied by Mitchell as Hetherington’s powerful follow-up volley was blocked by Greg McCaragher. United kept probing with McGeouch seeing an effort blocked.
United's Sam Hetherington gets away from Workington's Steven Rigg (Image: Ben Holmes)
Then the Blues came closest on 57 minutes when Fitzpatrick supplied the galloping Mellish, whose cross brought a scuffed finish by Hetherington which Armstrong tried to prod home, only for Mitchell to keep it out on the line.
That saw Workington reach the hour mark with their goal intact, at which point Carlisle made nine changes, Reds either side responding with a couple of their own. After the glut of new arrivals, Archie Davies fired over the bar for United and Armstrong glanced a Fitzpatrick cross just wide.
Workington were then gifted a great chance to upset their EFL visitors as Aaron Hayden’s backpass to Jude Smith was short – and Rigg broke onto it, going clean through, but he blasted his shot over the bar as United were reprieved.
Charters and Fitzpatrick looked to combine on the left, against Reds' trialist right-back Charlie Barnes - the former United prospect - in order to find a way in for Carlisle, but in general the Blues lacked creativity and quality in the last third and, after some good footwork from Freddie O’Donoghue worked one last chance which Mitchell saved, things ended goalless.
Reds: Mitchell, Trialist, Galloway, Little (Casson 53), Swinglehurst, Trialist, Symington (Walker 83), Hubbold (Trialist 62), Rigg (Trialist 83), Nugent, McCaragher (Martin 75). Not used: Eccles.
United: Lewis (Smith 60), Lavelle (Hayden 60), Barclay (Thomas 60), Ellis (Davies 60), Mellish (Allan 60), Harper (Fitzpatrick 24), Robson (Charters 60), McGeouch (Vela 60), Hetherington (O’Donoghue 60), Butterworth (Neal 60), Wyke (Armstrong 46).
Ref: Anthony Backhouse.
Crowd: 1,214.
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