Penrith 1 Carlisle United 5: Ryan Edmondson got his first Carlisle United goal as the Blues began their pre-season programme with a win at Penrith.

The Northern League side were briefly level when Andy Murray Jones shot home early in the second half.

But Jordan Gibson soon put United back ahead before Nic Bollado and Kristian Dennis, with a brace, made victory comfortable.

Paul Simpson also gave Edmondson's fellow new signings Tomas Holy and Owen Moxon their first outings, with three trialists - a goalkeeper, a defender and an attacker - getting 45 minutes apiece.

The action unfolded in front of an excellent 1,040 crowd at Frenchfield Park which will prove a welcome boost to the home club's coffers.

Simpson was without five players Tristan Abrahams, Taylor Charters, Jamie Devitt, Sam Fishburn and Sonny Hilton – who were not risked after training-ground knocks.

For Penrith, it was also a first game under Darren Edmondson after the former United favourite replaced Chris Humphrey at the helm earlier in the summer.

Penrith could be pleased with how they competed and contained the Blues initially.

An early one fell to Max Kilsby, who was denied by keeper Harvey Reay, and after that it was a slow-burner in terms of opportunities.

Carlisle carved an opportunity for Edmondson on 20 minutes, as Omari Patrick’s cross found him at the near post, but Harvey Reay did well to save a backheeled finish.

Teenager Kai Nugent was then denied by the home keeper after some solid line-leading from Edmondson.

Penrith played some neat, short passing at times, but United eventually found a way through, Patrick doing well to feed Edmondson and the former Leeds man guiding a low shot past Reay from the left.

After the break, Simpson fielded his trialist goalkeeper whilst handing Moxon his first outing, youth players Ryan Carr and Bollado also getting their chance among senior team-mates, with Jon Mellish, Corey Whelan and Jack Ellis forming the back three this time.

It was Penrith, though, who made their mark earliest in the half, and they got back on level terms when young forward Bollado turned into trouble in midfield, and sub Andy Murray Jones found space to take aim – and did so impressively, his low shot from distance proving too good for Carlisle’s keeper.

It was, though, only temporary parity for Penrith as Carlisle moved back in front three minutes later in superbly ruthless style. Gibson found his range quickly and sent a 30-yard free-kick curling and dipping into the net.

Three minutes later, they made it 3-1, as Penrith lost possession in their own half and Carlisle pounced – teenager Bollado, this time, supplying a fine finish, this time from the right corner of the home area.

United now comfortably ahead, they almost pulled further clear when Moxon picked out Tobi Sho-Silva, whose finish was cleared off the line.

Carlisle looked, generally, in greater control as things went on against a tiring home side, and added a fourth when Moxon showcased his vision and range, his raking ball from the left controlled and volleyed home by Kristian Dennis at the far post.

That impressive pre-season crowd could only applaud the assist and finish there, as Sho-Silva went close to a fifth for Carlisle and then Dennis did make it five, peeling into space to receive Carr’s pass and placing the ball calmly home.

Penrith: Reay, Tait, Coombe, Main, Fil, Crews, O’Connor, Muldoon, Shields, Ward, Anderson. Subs: Best, Brown, Murray Jones, Armstrong, Moynan, Prokas, J Patrick, Hunter, Morrison, Newton.

Goals: Murray-Jones 49

United (first half): Holy, Trialist, Armer, Feeney, Guy, Edmondson, O Patrick, Nugent, Bell, Kilsby, Trialist; (second half): Trialist, Moxon (Bell 81), Gibson, Dickenson, Dennis, Carr, Sho-Silva, Whelan, Ellis, Mellish, Bollado.

Goals: Edmondson 34, Gibson 52, Bollado 55, Dennis 69, 72

Ref: Scott Taylor.

Crowd: 1,040.