Kendal Town 1 Carlisle United 4: Trialist midfielder Callum Harris scored for Carlisle United as the Blues beat Kendal in a reserve friendly.

The 24-year-old, previously on Man City, Blackburn and Wolves’ books, has been training with the Cumbrians.

Harris, recently with Spanish third tier side Real Burgos, netted in the 76th minute of the game at Parkside Road.

Jon Mellish, who started in central midfield, scored a hat-trick.

The ex-Gateshead man gave the Blues the lead before Pat Allington levelled for the south Cumbrians after the break.

Harris then put United back in front and Mellish added two more.

In the first half, Charters saw his low corner turned home by Mellish in the 14th minute

Charters also twice shot wide from outside the box and Nathaniel Knight-Percival survived a first-half injury scare when he needed treatment after going down in his own box after seeing the ball out for a goal kick under pressure from Kendal’s Blues loan forward Keighran Kerr.

The defender was able to continue, with United twice denied by Kendal’s former Blues keeper Morgan Bacon before the break.

In front of a vocal group of young home fans, Bacon kept out a shot from Jamie Armstrong after Charlie Barnes’ cross, and then saved at Harris’ feet when the trialist should have scored following a good Charters run.

Carlisle, who also included Leeds striker Jimiel Chikukwa, who is on work experience with the Blues’ youth side, made three changes at the break, new loan keeper Marcus Dewhurst coming on along with Liam Lightfoot and Tom Wilson.

Mo Sagaf, Harris and Armstrong had chances to increase the lead before the hosts levelled, Allington’s well-aimed shot from the edge of the box beating Dewhurst.

A last-ditch Max Hunt tackle prevented a Kendal second before a superb Bacon save thwarted Chikukwa. At the other end, goalline clearances and a point-blank Dewhurst save kept it at 1-1.

Harris then got on the scoresheet, turning in the box and slotting home after Mellish had sent Armstrong down the right to cross in the 76th minute.

Mellish grabbed his second two minutes later, when his header from a Keelan Leslie cross slipped through Bacon’s fingers, and then completed his treble in the 80th minute by drilling low past Bacon from the left.

Bacon then kept out another late effort from Chikukwa.

United: Gray (Dewhurst 46), Barnes, Hunt (Day 76), Knight-Percival (Wilson 46), Mellish, Birch, Sagaf (Leslie 67), Armstrong, Harris, Charters (Lightfoot 46), Chikukwa.