Carlisle United’s teenage loan defender Josh O’Brien helped Carlisle City return to winning ways.

The big centre-back got his latest start for Dan Kirkup’s side in their Northern League Division One home clash with Birtley Town.

And O’Brien, 18, played his part in an impressive 3-2 win for 12th-placed City over their third-placed visitors.

The young Blues prospect, who is on a third-year scholarship with United, played the full game as goals from Callum Birdsall (two) and Jake Simpson, the former United coach, earned City the points against visitors who had keeper Lewis Baker sent off for dissent in the first half.

O’Brien is on a half-season loan with City, who are at home again on Tuesday night against Birtley Town.

A host of ex-United players were in the thick of the weekend action, meanwhile.

In League One, a 59th-minute Jack Marriott goal wrapped up a 3-0 win for leaders Wrexham against Shrewsbury Town.

League Two, meanwhile, saw Dan Butterworth grab his first Swindon Town goal in dramatic style.

The attacker, who left United on deadline day, struck deep into added time to earn the Robins a 1-1 draw at Barrow, denying the south Cumbrians top spot.

Butterworth’s late strike from distance (watch below) beat emergency keeper Rory Feely, the Bluebirds defender having gone in goal after a 41st-minute red card for Paul Farman, who handled outside his area.

Andy Cook’s double for Bradford City sent his former club Carlisle United to a 2-1 defeat, while assistant manager Danny Grainger’s wait to see a first goal or point at Morecambe continued with a 1-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra with Kane Hemmings – son of ex-United player Tony – getting the Railwaymen’s winner from the penalty spot.

Jordan Gibson set up Billy Sharp’s winner for Doncaster Rovers as they defeated Gillingham 1-0.

The National League saw a 4-3 defeat for Chris Beech’s AFC Fylde at the hands of Yeovil Town.

Ryan Carr came off the bench for his Gateshead loan debut as the north east side defeated Barnet 2-0 to remain top of the table.

In National League North, Mark Ellis struck the decisive goal to help Andy Preece’s Chorley to a 2-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers.

The Northern Premier League Premier Division saw Steven Swinglehurst on target for Workington Reds in their 1-1 home draw with Warrington Rylands.

In Northern League Division One, Darren Edmondson’s Penrith suffered a 5-0 defeat at Redcar Athletic.

North of the border, Josh Dixon was on target (watch below) for Annan Athletic in their emphatic 5-1 win at Stranraer in the SPFL Trust Trophy third round victory.

But Peter Murphy’s Queen of the South are out after a 3-0 home defeat to Airdrieonians.

Internationally, James Trafford kept a clean sheet for England’s Under-21s in their 0-0 Euro qualifying draw against Northern Ireland ahead of a home clash with Austria at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road tonight.

Fellow keeper Dean Henderson was among the subs as the senior Three Lions side won 2-0 against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League, with Lee Carsley’s side at home to Finland tomorrow.