Carlisle United 1 Greenock Morton 1: Brennan Dickenson was on target before Carlisle United were pegged back by a Morton penalty in their latest pre-season outing.

Dickenson glanced home from close range in the 59th minute to put the Blues in front in the behind-closed-doors game.

But a Grant Gillespie spot-kick, after Ben Barclay had been penalised for a trip, saw the Scottish Championship side back on terms.

The game, on United’s training pitch at Brunton Park, saw Paul Simpson give some of his first-team players 90 minutes of action in the latest summer outing.

There were no trialists involved, with Simpson picking from his existing squad.

Ryan Edmondson was not risked after being substituted with a dead leg at Workington Reds on Saturday.

Those getting the full game were Barclay, Tomas Holy and Kristian Dennis, while others getting 84 minutes were Jordan Gibson, Owen Moxon and Jon Mellish.

News and Star: Tobi Sho-Silva, right, is congratulated for his part in United's goalTobi Sho-Silva, right, is congratulated for his part in United's goal

 

Further players got an hour’s run-out in United’s fourth game of their preparations for the 2022/23 season.

Carlisle could have scored a number of goals in the first-half but were left to rue inaccurate finishing.

Kristian Dennis shot wide after just nine seconds before failing to chip Morton keeper Brian Schwake.

Jon Mellish and Sonny Hilton were next to try their luck before a powerful run from Moxon saw Dennis go clean through, only to slot a great chance wide.

United, again in a 3-4-3 system, went close again when Dennis headed wide a good Dickenson cross while, at the other end, Barclay made a vital block as Morton opened up United.

Hilton pounced on a loose ball to set up Dennis for another attempt, which went wide of the left-hand post, before Simpson introduced Callum Guy for Jack Ellis at the break, Gibson moving from midfield to the right.

Hilton saw one corner cleared off the line before another delivery saw United go in front, with Sho-Silva helping on the low inswinging corner at the near post and Dickenson credited with the final touch as the ball went inside the far post.

News and Star: Grant Gillespie beats Tomas Holy from the penalty spot for Morton's equaliserGrant Gillespie beats Tomas Holy from the penalty spot for Morton's equaliser

Simpson made four changes on 64 minutes, with Corey Whelan, Nic Bollado, Jack Armer and contract hopeful Jamie Devitt entering the fray at the expense of Dickenson, Sho-Silva, Hilton and Morgan Feeney.

A Whelan slip let in a Morton frontman but the chance went begging, before good link-up play between Bollado and Dennis saw the teenage striker test the visiting keeper with a powerful shot.

Barclay headed another United corner just wide but at the other end it was his trip, as a Morton player weaved into the box, that saw ref Anthony Backhouse point to the spot.

Gillespie drilled the penalty low to the left, past Holy’s dive, as Dougie Imrie’s side levelled.

The offside flag denied Bollado a United second before Mortin missed a back-post sitter after carving Carlisle open down the left.

Mellish, often breaking forward from defence, helped the Blues apply more late pressure, with one attack seeing a goalbound Devitt shot strike Dennis and go wide.

News and Star: Morton boss Dougie Imrie with United's Paul SimpsonMorton boss Dougie Imrie with United's Paul Simpson

Lewis Bell, Ryan Carr and Max Kilsby then got late run-outs as Moxon, Gibson and Mellish went off in the closing stages.

Not involved along with Edmondson was Sam Fishburn, who is yet to feature in pre-season after a knee injury, while Omari Patrick, Taylor Charters and Joel Senior were among those watching the action as they recover from injuries.

United: Holy, Barclay, Feeney (Whelan 64), Mellish (Kilsby 84), Moxon (Carr 84), Gibson (Bell 84), Dickenson (Armer 64), Ellis (Guy 46), Hilton (Devitt 64), Sho-Silva (Bollado 64), Dennis. Not used: Breeze.