St Mirren 2-2 Carlisle United: Thomas heads Blues to draw

Harrison Neal had shot United ahead but the home side found space in Carlisle’s box twice in the second half: headers from Toyosi Olusanya and James Scott turning things around.

The Blues’ susceptibility at those moments looked to be pointing them towards defeat. But then a cross of their own led to a draw, as Terell Thomas thumped home a header, earning a fair share of things at the SMiSA Stadium.

Carlisle hope to have added stature to their side for this coming season and Thomas’ emphatic goal lent weight to that idea. It was certainly a better side of them than the second goal they conceded, when Scott was unmarked as the Blues’ defending of a corner came apart.

In between and either side of the goals, there was some good industry and interplay after a patchy start, and it certainly felt like a positive and hard-working exercise overall. It was also a friendly spectacle worthy of the excellent travelling support of 331 that Carlisle brought with them to Renfrewshire.

Neal shot the Blues in front after linking well with Charlie Wyke. The second half then saw the Scottish Premiership side's fightback: Olusanya guiding a header past Harry Lewis, then substitute Scott doing the same. Thomas’ intervention then ensured United could complete their week in Scotland in decent heart.

After five days in St Andrews, Carlisle travelled west to the SMiSA Stadium. The Blues’ line-up was captained by Josh Vela while the teamsheet also included Georgie Kelly, as a substitute, for the first time this pre-season. Cameron Harper was not involved after his groin issue at Workington the previous weekend, while Jon Mellish was another notable absentee - a family matter, explained Paul Simpson.

Harrison Neal slides in (Image: Ben Holmes)

United’s line-up, give or take a few variables, may not have been a million miles from what will start at Gillingham. This was one of four remaining friendlies for the either-ors to be settled.

Carlisle ran out in front of an impressive travelling support, and settled into their wing-back system – Taylor Charters on the left – in a game which took time to generate any real chances.

It was an honest, even contest that lacked initial flair, Mikael Mandron failing with some ambitious early penalty shouts before Archie Davies opened up on the Carlisle right, seeing his cross cleared.

United, through the running of Josh Vela, had some midfield drive but initially lacked conviction when they took up  attacking positions. Charters tried to be positive against Elvis Bwomono, while the game’s first proper opportunity saw Davies well-placed to block Mandron’s shot on the turn.

Carlisle were organised in their shape and, in Aaron Hayden, attentive at the back, the defender timing a sliding challenge superbly to deny the raiding Olusanya after the Saints had intercepted in the Blues’ half.

United were yet to connect a decisive pass, although one well-flighted Ethan Robson free-kick found Wyke’s head, but the finish was wayward. Yet a few minutes later they linked together a more dynamic attack, and it was enough to open the scoring.

Harrison Neal and Charlie Wyke celebrate after combining for the opener (Image: Ben Holmes)

St Mirren’s play from the back was loose, and United were sharply onto it. Neal then swapped passes with Wyke, ran onto his deft return pass and drove it low past keeper Ellery Balcombe: a goal well made and well taken, and a light shone on the kind of football that can open good opponents up.

This heralded Carlisle’s best first-half spell, the Blues industrious in winning territory and free-kicks against hosts who were willing but not polished in their work. One dangerous cross late in the half had United scrambling but their lead at half-time was, all in all, justified.

Carlisle’s play appeared to be growing more instinctive, some good interplay between Robson and Luke Armstrong – a combination with potential – highlighting this early in the second half. But then their lead was wiped out as Jaden Brown crossed from the left and Olusanya got the run on the Blues defence to head accurately across Lewis.

The game was now at a higher pace on both sides. Carlisle looked to stretch their hosts again, Armstrong denied at close range by Brown, who the appeared at the other end to squirm between defenders and bobble a shot at Lewis. Sam Lavelle then got his timing spot-on to stop a run by the pacy Olusanya in its tracks.

It remained a friendly of good urgency, United then freshening up with six substitutes on the hour mark, and two of the arrivals, Dan Butterworth and Freddie O’Donoghue, almost combining for a chance soon into things.

Georgie Kelly was a second-half sub for his first pre-season outing (Image: Ben Holmes)

Saints suffered a blow when debutant sub Alex Iacovitti was forced off with a hamstring problem just eight minutes into things. After this further flurry of changes, Jack Ellis made a timely intervention to deny the hosts, with Carlisle now seeking some new impetus for the final stages.

Kelly made his introduction with 15 to go and then the crossbar denied Aran Fitzpatrick a big impact on things: the sub doing well to get on the end of Ellis’s cross, the woodwork keeping the teenager’s header out.

There was then a fresh burst of St Mirren pressure, Carlisle conceding one corner when Lewis clattered a clearance against Lavelle’s head, and then failing to deal with another, as the hosts won the first ball and then Scott was unmarked to guide the second past Lewis.

United’s defending of the set-piece was unconvincing and it left them behind with ten minutes remaining. But then a corner got them right back into it: Butterworth’s delivery, Barclay’s eyebrows on it, and Thomas’ forehead planting it firmly into St Mirren’s net in front of the travelling fans.

Carlisle will hope that kind of set-piece action benefits them more often than not in 2024/25. In terms of this game it meant things ended on a positive note, and with enough to take into the rest of pre-season.

St Mirren: Balcombe, R Taylor (Iacovitti 60, Rooney 68), Brown (Sutherland 85), Gogic, Fraser, Bwomono, O’Hara (Idowu 46), Smyth (F Taylor 83), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 68), Olusanya (Ayunga 65), Mandron (Scott 68). Not used: Urminsky, Kenny, Jamieson.

Goals: Olusanya 50, Scott 80.

United: Lewis, Thomas, Lavelle, Hayden (Barclay 60), Davies (Ellis 60), Charters (Fitzpatrick 60), Neal (McGeouch 60), Vela (O’Donoghue 60), Robson (Allan 75), Wyke (Butterworth 60), Armstrong (Kelly 75). Not used: Breeze, Smith.

Goals: Neal 30, Thomas 85.

Crowd: 2,011 (331 United fans).