Both Penrith and Carlisle City stepped up their pre-season preparations another level at the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, the Sky Blues welcomed Jim Nichols' Bonny Blues to Gillford Park.

The match kicked off in torrential weather conditions that reassembled weather closer to that you would expect to see in early January rather than late July.

James Tose's Carlisle City adapted the better of the two teams to the conditions and took the lead early on when Darren Addison headed home after Penrith goalkeeper Cameron Copland could only tip the original effort from a Sky Blue player's boot on to the crossbar.

Martyn Coleman, Penrith's record-breaking top scorer last season, almost levelled the scores after eight minutes. But he was denied with his long-range strike by a fine fingertip save from Carlisle's stopper Adam Coward.

And Tose's troops doubled their lead, only for Coleman to win a penalty and convert it himself to reduce the deficit back down to one goal as Carlisle City went in 2-1 up at the interval.

Around the hour mark, Nichols' Penrith side equalised through Jonny Murray before one of their new faces Elliott Bousfield scored the fifth, and ultimately decisive, goal in the five-goal game.

Before the match, Bonny Blues boss Nichols had admitted that he felt this would be the closest thing each team would get to a competitive fixture before they start their 2017/18 campaigns. And both seemed happy with the work-out.

"I thought it was a good game," Tose said. "In the first half, I thought we dominated and, in the second half, Penrith sort of dominated for around half an hour.

"Then, the last 15 minutes we came on strong again, trying to get something. We were a bit disappointed with two of the goals we conceded.

"To be honest with you, I think the penalty gave them a little bit to hang on to, going into the second half. To be fair to them, they then went and raised their game.

"They went quite direct which is a bit difficult when three of your back four have just come on and are looking to bring themselves into the game.

"Overall, it was very positive from us. We played some fantastic football at times, scored some great goals and it is a case of onwards and upwards - we want to keep that going into the season."

Penrith manager Nichols said: "We weren't particularly happy with the first half. I think we tried to over-complicate it, really.

"We tried to play everything short and, with the way they are set up with everyone behind the ball apart from Rob McCartney - to be honest with you - we were not good enough to break it down.

"We had a long discussion at half-time about how we were going to change it and we said 'perhaps we need to be more direct'.

"So, we played a little bit more direct into Martyn and Jonny came on with him, and he did really well.

"After the game, we said that the positive was that it wasn't working for us [in the first half] and we found a way to win the game which was really pleasing."

With the match providing plenty of goals, both Carlisle City and Penrith's forwards players look likely to cause opposition defence's problems in the Hallmark Security League First Division and Northern League, Division One next term.

While the threat Bonny Blues striker Coleman can cause to any defence is well-known with Cumbrian football circles, Nichols was pleased to see other players get on the score-sheet, too.

He said: "Jonny Murray was playing for us last year, but he wasn't really fit after he left Gretna 2008.

"Robbie Hebson came on and looked quite sharp, Ric Faustino did quite well and Elliott has scored the winner.

"Last year, after Martyn, I think our top scorer only had six goals. But we have had three different scorers today which is a real big plus.

"Even after Martyn came off, we still created chances and we still looked a threat. That is a big positive."

On his own team's attacking threat, Tose said: "It is clear for all to see that we have changed our style of play, especially in and around the box.

"We are very organised with and without the ball, so that is good."

Kendal Town will be Penrith's opponents at Frenchfield Park this evening, City will play at Silloth.

And Nichols, who spent many years with the Mintcakes, is looking forward to the fixture.

"It will be another step up, obviously they are the league above us," he said.

"It will be a tough one. I was at Kendal for quite a long time, so I know quite a few people there.

"Obviously, it is one I would like to win and their manager is one of my better friends in football, so I definitely want to get one over on him.

"But, as I say, I think that it will be a tough one. These are the games we learn about what we have got."

"The first three games - no disrespect intended to them - but we played as much football as we wanted in them," he added.

"Yes, they were good work-outs. But, in terms of possession on the ball, we had so much of the game with 80-85 per cent possession. Today, they locked on tight and they stopped us playing.

"We had to find a different way to win the game. I think that is the most pleasing part that we found a way to win the game and, in the end, we found a way to create a lot of chances.

"We are disappointed with the goals against. But hopefully, we will get the mistakes out the way before the season starts."

Penrith will open their new campaign with a home FA Cup tie against West Auckland Town on August 5, while Carlisle City will host Chadderton in their first league game a week later.