Wrexham Youth 1
Carlisle United U18 1
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference)

Match Report

After four successive defeats, this game provided a welcome change in fortunes for Dan Nolan’s young charges as – for the second time this season at Stansty – they were held to a score draw by their Cumbrian counterparts. With the likes of Ryan Williams, Aaron Heald and Cameron McGregor still sidelined by injury, Wrexham were able to name just three substitutes on the teamsheet but that didn’t deter the Reds from producing a battling display.

After a cagey first 15 minutes, the game gradually sprang into life with Wrexham keeper Ben Tinkley doing well to punch the ball off the head of United captain Blechoir Papa. Moments later Sam Pilkington’s surging run ended with a 25-yard shot that Tinkley’s opposite number, Regan Ward, failed to hold, the ball rolling behind for a corner much to the relief of the Carlisle custodian. The deadlock was broken on 21 minutes when Calum Huxley skilfully escaped the attention of three defenders before calmly shooting low into the corner of the net, the 17-year-old registering his first goal of the campaign in the process.

Wrexham’s slender lead lasted barely six minutes as Carlisle scored with their first effort on target, a superb right foot shot from Keighran Kerr looping over the stranded Tinkley. It was tough on the home side who then had to weather a flurry of Carlisle chances before the interval; Josh Galloway twice going close before Taylor Charters’ free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Level at the break, Wrexham came out for the second half with renewed purpose demonstrated by Jake Bickerstaff setting up Pilkington for an effort which flew wide of the target. With both sides much more compact defensively, chances were few and far between until the closing ten minutes when Wrexham’s pursuit of a winning goal also allowed Carlisle a sniff of victory.

Tinkley had to be alert to block Yussef Hakmoui’s goalbound shot before then rushing out to save at the feet of the onrushing substitute seconds later. The industrious Matt Sargent then fired narrowly wide before United sub Kyle Soper capitalised on hesitation in the Reds’ defence to race clear before pulling his shot wide of the target.