Carlisle United coach Paul Murray says the club's young players must become more consistent in order to have a future in the game.

The first-team coach spoke after a youthful United XI edged past Pirelli in the Cumberland Cup second round with a 1-0 victory.

Keighran Kerr's late penalty earned United the win.

Murray, though, felt the team could have performed better.

"I've told the players they have to pass the ball and move it quicker," he said.

"We didn’t do that in the first half. The second half was a bit better. But we have to be so much better on the ball.

"You’ve got young lads in there who want to become professionals - well, you’ve got to have that side of the game, you’ve got to be good on the ball.

"They have to step up, otherwise the reality is they’ll go to play for a local side lower down the leagues. Unless you take the opportunity, that is what’s going to happen

"I accept a bit of inconsistency, because they’re young. In the last round [a 3-2 win aginst Workington] we played well against probably a better team, with no disrespect to Pirelli.

"But you can’t be an eight [out of 10] and then a five, which at times we were in the game. You need to be on a level par of seven every game."

United's line-up included second-choice keeper Louis Gray and young pros Sam Adewusi, Kieron Olsen, Max Brown, Liam McCarron and Jack Egan, the latter limping off with a shin injury.

Murray, meanwhile, praised youth team forward Kerr for his impact after coming off the bench.

"Keighran is lively and likes to run in behind," he said.

"He’s got to time his runs a little bit better but he wanted the ball straight away and he scored the pen that put us through, so fair play to the lad."

Murray also said United stood up to pressure from Pirelli and also had to deal with some robust tackles.

He adde that Carlisle want to win the county competition, with the quarter-final draw to be held on BBC Radio Cumbria on November 30.

"They should have that mentality," Murray said. "I had it as a player. Anything you’re involved in as a player, you want to win it.

"We want to try and win it, and so do the lads."

Also through to the third round are Bransty Rangers, Penrith, Whitehaven, Wigton Harriers, Netherhall and Keswick, with Cleator Moor Celtic facing Unisun Athletic on November 27 for the final last-eight place.