Carlisle United 3 Tranmere Rovers 0: Trialist Kwame Thomas boosted his chances of earning a Carlisle United deal in the Blues’ 3-0 win against Tranmere.

Former England Under-20 striker Thomas bagged a first-half brace, before youngster Lewis Bell added a third after the restart, with Nathan Thomas in attendance and manager Steven Pressley confirming after the match he is due to sign a season-long loan with United tomorrow, after cutting short his loan spell with Gillingham.

On the pitch, it was the visitors with the first chance on the fourth minute, with defender Emmanuel Monthe cracking his effort against the bar after Kieron Morris' corner.

Two minutes later, Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin made a fine save to tip over Oliver Banks' effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Pressley's side then had their first opportunity with 11 minutes on the clock when Harry McKirdy drove forward and unleashed a shot from around 20 yards out. Tranmere keeper Scott Davies was well behind it, though.

The visitors, once again, hit the bar on 16 minutes. Ishmael Miller's attempted shot fell kindly to Connor Jennings who stabbed towards goal and his effort crashed against Collin's bar.

But it was United who took the lead on the 19th minute.

A great run from McKirdy saw him beat a number of players as he cut in from the right. The ball then fell to Josh Galloway who crossed and Thomas headed in from close range at the back post.

Seven minutes later, after a fine passing home move, Jon Mellish crossed to summer signing McKirdy who was denied by a save from Rovers' shot-stopper Davies.

Just after the half-hour mark, Micky Mellon's men were, again, unfortunate to not score.

Firstly, a Banks free-kick landed on the top of United's net before, soon after, Morris hit the bar - the third time Tranmere had hit the woodwork in the first period.

Carlisle doubled their advantage on the 40th minute after a fine move.

Galloway passed to the impressive McKirdy who found Thomas with a superb reverse pass and the 23-year-old beat Davies with his first-time effort which nestled in the top corner.

The best chance of a quiet start to the second period saw Thomas denied his hat-trick by an away defender after a left-wing cross by Mellish.

With the Cumbrians then having a young-looking side after a host of changes, they made it 3-0 when Jamie Armstrong fed Bell who slotted into the bottom corner in the 68th minute.

Collin was called into action, 15 minutes from time. After good work by substitute Stefan Payne, he worked room for the shot, but Cumbrian Collin did well to parry his strike.

Trialist Mohammed Sagaf linked up with Carlisle's squad for their penultimate pre-season friendly.

The midfielder, who most recently was with Braintree, was named on Pressley's bench.

The Blues, meanwhile, say Hallam Hope has been for a scan on a hamstring injury he picked up in training, with the 25-year-old frontman not named in Carlisle's squad.

Defender Byron Webster captained the team in the first half, while Collin took over the captaincy after the restart.

While Thomas started other trialists, Aaron Hayden and Lewis Brunt, both started on United's bench and came on for the second half.

Carlisle United: Collin, Elliott (Barnes 60), Mellish (Armstrong 60), Jones (Charters 45), Scougall (Brunt 45), McKirdy (Birch 60), Thomas (Bell 60), Webster (c) (Branthwaite 45), Galloway (Wilson 69), Bridge (Sagaf 45), Knight-Percival (Hayden 45).

Carlisle's unused sub: Gray.

Goals: Thomas, 19 and 40 and Bell, 68.

Tranmere: Davies (c) (Pilling 72), Banks (Woods 60), Jennings, Potter (Payne 45), Monthe (Gilmour 60), Perkins, Miller (Ponticelli 45), Morris (Mullin 60), Ray, Ridehalgh (trialist 45), Caprice (Nelson 60).

Tranmere unused subs: Spellman, Thompson and Walker-Rice.

Ref: Anthony Backhouse.

Crowd: 1,015 (71 Tranmere fans).