Workington Reds 0 Carlisle United 3: Summer signing Ryan Edmondson scored twice as Carlisle United won their latest pre-season friendly at Borough Park.

The former Leeds United man claimed a well-taken brace in the first-half, with a late own-goal increasing United's winning margin.

It saw Paul Simpson's League Two side get the better of Danny Grainger's NPL West outfit.

Workington contained the Blues well after the break and could have pulled a goal back through Liam Lightfoot.

News and Star: Jordan Gibson in action for UnitedJordan Gibson in action for United

Carlisle, meanwhile, hit the woodwork through Callum Guy as Simpson gave several of his players an hour of action with one - Corey Whelan - playing the full game.

Jamie Devitt was among those getting 60 minutes in his bid for a deal, and he had a key role in Edmondson's opener.

The striker, meanwhile, took his pre-season tally to three with his brace in west Cumbria.

Before the game the 1,096 crowd and the players took part in a minute's applause in memory of former Reds player and Carlisle manager Clive Middlemass.

Workington had an early opportunity via a Conor Tinnion free-kick, but Tomas Holy held on for Carlisle.

Blues defender Ben Barclay then made a crucial interception as Dan Wordsworth tried to attack a Tinnion corner.

News and Star: Ryan Edmondson on the attackRyan Edmondson on the attack

United then went in front in the 11th minute, when Devitt's excellent cross was met by Edmondson, and though Jim Atkinson saved his header, the frontman fired home the rebound.

Reds tried to hit back, with Bobby Carroll impressing in the tackle in midfield, but another Tinnion cross brushed the side-netting as the hosts counter-attacked.

Edmondson's line-leading, though, was a positive presence for the Blues and he was denied a second by Lightfoot's tackle as United broke.

Keelan Leslie failed to take advantage after pouncing when Barclay tried to bring down a clearance.

And Carlisle then capitalised at the other end with a second goal, as Guy's ball down the middle was finished confidently by Edmondson.

Ben Hughes was a threat for Workington on the right and his cross was just out of Leslie's reach as the hosts tried to reduce the deficit.

News and Star: Ben Barclay in aerial action for United at Borough ParkBen Barclay in aerial action for United at Borough Park

Devitt and Guy were working well in the middle for United, though the captain failed to keep a shot down when teed up by Gibson shortly before half-time.

At the break, Edmondson was replaced by Nic Bollado - before Guy came close to a spectacular third for United when he spotted Atkinson off his line and hit the post with a long-range effort.

Jack Ellis then broke forward to set up Devitt for a shot, but the midfielder's attempt cleared the bar from 25 yards.

Simpson then made nine changes in the 61st minute, while Reds also made a change with Scott Allison replacing Symington.

Workington's best opening so far then came via a 66th-minute corner taken short by Tinnion to Hughes, who cut in and crossed, picking out Liam Lightfoot, but the defender steered a free header over the bar.

News and Star: A minute's applause for Clive MiddlemassA minute's applause for Clive Middlemass

Reds boss Grainger then introduced Ruben Jerome for the last 20 minutes, before teenage Carlisle midfielder Kai Nugent saw a shot deflect wide after he did well to bring down a Ryan Carr ball.

From the resulting corner, Corey Whelan - the only Carlisle player given 90 minutes - glanced a header wide.

Nugent then had another chance, fed by Hilton as the Fulham loanee controlled and turned well, but Atkinson parried the youngster's finish as he broke through the middle.

Grainger introduced two trialists late on as Reds, in a  pushed for a consolation to no avail.

And with the last chance of the game, a corner was headed into his own net by Reds' trialist sub defender under pressure from Morgan Feeney.

Reds: Atkinson (Paden-Gale 87), Clarke (Trialist 77), Birch, Wordsworth, Lightfoot, Leslie (Trialist 77), Symington (Allison 63), Carroll (Howarth 87), Reilly (Jerome 68), Hughes, Tinnion (Burns 87).

United: Holy (Breeze 61), Ellis (Carr 61), Whelan, Kilsby (Mellish 61), Barclay (Bell 61), Armer (Dickenson 61), Guy (Moxon 61), Gibson (Hilton 61), Devitt (Nugent 61), Edmondson (Bollado 46), Sho-Silva (Feeney 61).

Goals: Edmondson 11, 29, Trialist 90og.

Ref: Anthony Backhouse.

Crowd: 1,096.