Carlisle United 3 Tranmere Rovers 0: There was no doubting Thomas here. That's Kwame as much as Nathan, whose appearance at Carlisle United’s ground set tongues wagging before and after his namesake submitted a contract application with two goals.

Thomas N was, until last night, on Gillingham’s books after joining them from Sheffield United earlier this month. What was he doing at Brunton Park, then, on a night his loan club were playing a few miles away at Dover?

Eventually it was confirmed: he was returning to Cumbria for the season, having failed to settle in Kent.

Before this unexpected but welcome news was fully digested by United's supporters, it was Thomas K who had people talking. This sweltering summer’s night saw the trialist score a poacher’s header and then put away a more eye-catching strike with his left foot. At a time Carlisle are seriously short of firepower, the sight of a big striker sending the ball into the net was timely indeed.

The former England Under-20 man has surely earned some extended time with his hour-long display, which had more substance in the centre-forward role than he showed on his first, more toiling appearance against Fleetwood. As United grew into the first half especially, he linked well with young Josh Galloway and Harry McKirdy, whose combinations were the home side’s highlight.

Youth-teamer Galloway could be this pre-season’s story if he ends up in the squad when the serious business starts. Ex-Aston Villa man McKirdy is a cert to be there: his footwork and speed of thought made this his most effective display so far. Later there was also the pleasing sight of one of United’s other home-grown players, Lewis Bell, hitting the target and all in all this was as well as Carlisle could have expected things to go against a League One side who, on the surface, appeared better-equipped.

The Blues began the game with their fans debating the Thomases and also absorbing news of a hamstring injury to Hallam Hope: just what they need at a time of squad and striker shortage. In the evening heat, it was Tranmere who initially seemed much nearer the boil. In the first 10 minutes their passing and movement, especially from midfield, was crisper and sharper and, after three minutes, they hammered the crossbar: a shot from Manny Monthe after Carlisle had failed to clear a corner.

Three minutes on and they were again very close, this time Olly Banks drawing an athletic save from Adam Collin. In attack, Ishmael Miller also posed United some early troubles. Then, after McKirdy had skimmed a shot on target, the woodwork intervened a second time, the bar keeping out Connor Jennings’ outside-of-the foot finish.

United, at this point, were struggling to build anything against these third-tier newcomers and one certainly couldn’t see what was coming: a Carlisle goal. It was, though, the result of an inspired dribble by McKirdy, who showed excellent close control as he weaved infield from the right, feinting past a queue of defenders before Galloway arrived from the left to shoot. As it deflected into the air, Thomas was there to nod home.

This close-range opener gave this game a bit more consequence and, for a while, Tranmere seemed shorter of steam. McKirdy almost unlocked them again as he collected a Jon Mellish cross, beat a man and tested keeper Scott Davies. Carlisle’s general passing and control also improved, even if Tranmere could still have had their ample share of goals, Banks skimming the top of the net with a free-kick, then Kieron Morris the latest visitor to hit the bar after dancing around Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

Galloway, though, was growing in confidence at the other end as he picked things up on the left and linked with McKirdy. In the 35th minute, the teenager turned on to a chance and was denied by Davies. McKirdy then showed his pace, but the mountainous Monthe could not be evaded.

Next, though, United did elude Rovers a second time. Fittingly it again involved Galloway and McKirdy, the former with a bright break and McKirdy with another dart followed by a cute pass. Thomas then emphatically curled it home.

The second half saw changes that included United’s newest trialist, Somalia-born Mohammed Ali Sagaf, most recently with Braintree and spotted, Pressley said, by new coach Nathan Rooney during a spell with Crawley. He went to the base of midfield as the manager also sent on five others. It was Lewis Brunt’s last chance to impress before a decision on his loan from Aston Villa, with Aaron Hayden also getting an opportunity at the back (not up front this time).

Thomas hunted a hat-trick, denied by a tackle when set up by Mellish as Carlisle continued to offer well. He didn’t get his treble as, in the 60th minute, Pressley once more sent on a cluster of young players. This did not see Carlisle on the back foot in the way one might have expected. Indeed, two of the teens combined brightly to make it 3-0: Jamie Armstrong sending Bell through, and the latter finishing tidily indeed.

Bell, a few minutes later, swung an attractive cross-field ball out to Sagaf and showed further confidence with some trickery in the corner. At the other end a set-piece caused a Tranmere near miss and some more inevitable Wirral pressure followed – Jennings going close – but Micky Mellon’s side were not particularly in tune, and so, in a Carlisle pre-season of much anxiety, we had a night of intrigue off the field, and also some welcome good things on it.

United: Collin, Elliott (Barnes 60), Mellish (Birch 60), Webster (Branthwaite 46), Knight-Percival (Hayden 46), Jones (Sagaf 46), Bridge (Charters 46), Scougall (Brunt 46), McKirdy (Armstrong 60), Galloway (Wilson 69), Thomas (Bell 60). Not used: Gray.

Goals: Thomas 20, 39, Bell 68.

Tranmere: Davies, Banks (Gilmour 60), Jennings, Potter (Trialist 46), Monthe (Nelson 60), Perkins, Miller (Payne 46), Morris (Woods 60), Ray, Ridehalgh (Ponticelli 46), Caprice (Mullin 60). Not used: Pilling.

Ref: Anthony Backhouse.

Crowd: 1,015 (71 Tranmere fans).