Carlisle United 0 Wigan Athletic 2: Callum Guy made a welcome return to action after more than 11 months out as the Blues were beaten in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
The midfielder, back from an ACL injury, came off the bench in the 62nd minute at Brunton Park.
Guy received a warm ovation from fans as he made his long-awaited comeback, Taylor Charters also making his return from injury at the same stage.
Their comebacks came on a night a young Blues side were well beaten by Wigan, who struck two first-half goal in front of 1,117 fans to end Carlisle's hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Josh Stones' early penalty was followed by Michael Olakigbe's strike as the League One club dominated, on a night teenager Dan Hopper, son of the late United legend Tony, made his senior debut as a sub along with fellow youth team player Seb Mason.
United boss Mike Williamson made nine changes to his XI, handing a host of young players opportunities - while the return of Guy and Charters to the squad as substitutes was a hugely positive sight.
In the XI, youth defender Hayden Atkinson was given his debut, there were first starts for Freddie O'Donoghue and Anton Dudik, and call-ups for Gabe Breeze, Jack Ellis, Jack Robinson, Ben Barclay, Dominic Sadi and Sam Hetherington, while Jon Mellish and Harrison Neal were the only two starters from the side that faced Colchester.
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney, meanwhile, made ten changes from their most recent league XI, defender James Carragher the only player retained in the side, while Maleace Asamoah - son of ex-Blues favourite Derek - was a substitute.
The visitors established control early on as Scott Smith went close with a deflected shot.
The 16-year-old Atkinson then denied Stones with a strong tackle.
But in the seventh minute United were undone as Atkinson, attempting to see the ball out for a goal kick, saw a Wigan man stretch to win the ball, and the young defender was then penalised for his challenge on Stones.
The Wigan forward duly blasted the penalty past Breeze.
Maloney's side remained on top against a young United side struggling to build up the pitch with their passing game from the back.
Ellis needed to make a timely challenge to stop another Wigan raid, before Breeze made a flying save to deny Stones.
K'Marni Miller should then have made it 2-0, when played through by Toby Sibbick, but Breeze denied him.
The second, though, came soon afterwards as O'Donoghue was ambushed and Olakigbe was duly played in to the left of goal, and his firm finish went in off the post.
Carlisle struggled to gain any foothold in the visitors' half, one promising run by Ellis failing to produce a chance from the right.
A better spell from the Blues saw Neal feed Dudik, but the Ukrainian's shot was blocked as he turned well.
And Wigan then came close to a third as they broke down the right before Breeze saved Stones' finish.
After the break, Atkinson did well to intercept Stones' run before Jonny Smith shot wide after breaking through the middle.
United remained short of chances, a Mellish run almost setting something up but Carlisle never truly threatening Wigan's goal, before Williamson introduced Guy on the hour mark to a great reception, Charters also welcomed back for his first appearance of the season after a hamstring injury, as part of a triple change that also involved Aran Fitzpatrick.
Later, 17-year-old Hopper came on along with Mason for the closing stages of the defeat which United ended with ten man as Atkinson limped off. The result, coupled with Morecambe's 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest's Under-21s, ended Carlisle's chances of progress in the Trophy with one group game to go.
United: Breeze, Ellis, Robinson (Charters 62), Barclay (Hopper 82), Mellish (Fitzpatrick 62), Atkinson, Neal (Guy 62), Sadi (Mason 82), Hetherington, O’Donoghue, Dudik. Not used: Smith, Davies.
Wigan: Watson, McHugh, Sibbick, Carragher, Miller (M Smith 75), Payne, S Smith, Francois (Thomas 61), J Smith (Rankine 71), Stones (Asamoah 71), Olakigbe. Not used: Lonergan, Aimson, McManaman.
Goals: Stones 7pen, Olakigbe 24.
Booked: S Smith, Thomas.
Ref: Steven Copeland.
Crowd: 1,117 (195 Wigan fans).
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