Coach Darren Edmondson has highlighted the importance of the Cumberland Cup in helping Carlisle United’s young players learn about men’s football.

The Blues, mostly made up of youth team players, reached this season’s final after a 3-0 win against Bransty Rangers on Tuesday night.

It follows victories over Workington, Pirelli and Cleator Moor Celtic in the earlier rounds.

Academy manager Edmondson says the challenges posed by tough local opponents in the county competition can be all-important for his teenage players.

He said: “It’s vital.

“We had a lot of first-years out there [last night], as well as in the previous rounds – they are local cup ties, you get more contact, the players learn and we learn about them a bit more.

“At Pirelli me and Gav [Skelton] were able to speak to one or two of them about taking contact better, or moving away from contact, finding space a bit quicker.

“That’s been great. Two or three games in the Cumberland Cup have seen them learn and we’ve progressed to the final because of it.”

Goals from Taylor Charters, Keighran Kerr and Josh Galloway sealed United’s semi-final victory against their west Cumbrian opponents.

United’s side also included 16-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite, a recent addition to the professional ranks.

There were two senior players involved, in the shape of keeper Louis Gray and experienced midfielder Jason Kennedy.

On Kennedy, coach Edmondson said: “He’s been involved in nearly all the [cup] games. I’m sure he would have liked to be getting more first team games, but the fact he offers to play in this game, and played so well, with the attitude he has, is testament to him as a person as well as a footballer.”

With manager Steven Pressley watching the game at Penrith’s Frenchfield Park, Edmondson said it was a further incentive for United’s youth players to perform.

“It means a lot to them,” he said. “It hasn’t always happened [managers watching these games], but from John Sheridan in the summer it was always that way.

“They’ve paid attention, they’ve had training and match times, and if you add these games to them, they’ve been in [the managers’] eyes as much as can be asked. Then performances are up to them.”

Edmondson added that the cup games are also useful in giving further pointers to the club when they reach decisions on the future of second-year youth players in the coming weeks.

He said: “All the players want is to have game time in front of the eyes that matter, then it’s up to the club what direction they want to take it in.

“Jarrad has stepped up quicker than expected and has got his reward, Liam McCarron we all know about, so let’s see if we can push a few more up in the next couple of weeks.

“Regardless of those decisions, they are in a cup final now and that will be very important to them, to play on Brunton Park.

“The youth system can be a long old two years for them. I don’t think people appreciate how mentally draining it is at times – as a 16-year-old going straight into work, and as a 17-year-old only getting Sunday off.

“These games and a Brunton Park final is a great way to end what will hopefully a happy journey for most of them.”

Edmondson also praised Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League Division One side Bransty for their efforts.

The amateur side reached the semi-finals for the first time.

Edmondson said: “That’s fantastic for them.

“They brought some great support, a bus full, and that makes it a great evening and gives a bit of atmosphere to the game.

“They did themselves every credit. There were some tackles going in but you expect that - it’s a semi-final, there are always going to be tackles and challenges. There were one or two mistimed ones but that’s absolutely fine.

"I thought they were a credit to their football club.”