Newcastle United U21 0 Carlisle United 2: A first-half own goal and a late Ryan Edmondson strike saw Carlisle defeat Newcastle's Under-21s at Gateshead.

Edmondson's flicked finish was inadvertently turned into his own net by the Magpies' Michael Ndiweni after 20 minutes.

And the frontman then slid home a Jack Armer cross in the 88th minute to double the lead.

It was enough for victory in a pre-season friendly which Carlisle started well before toiling in a less impressive second half.

After the opening goal, Jordan Gibson came close to another when he hit the post, while he was later superbly denied by sub keeper Will Brown.

United passed up other good positions in a dominant first 45 before a more sluggish showing almost let Ben Dawson's Toon youngsters back into things before Edmondson's late effort from close range.

Eight Carlisle players got the full 90 minutes as Paul Simpson's side continued their build-up towards the new season, two weeks before the big kick-off.

The game also saw Owen Moxon return from injury, but trialist keeper Dan Langley was an unused substitute as his bid to earn a Blues deal continues.

Simpson welcomed midfielder Moxon back into the side after he sat out Tuesday's game against Livingston with a hip flexor issue.

Carlisle dominated proceedings early on with Edmondson and Alfie McCalmont having early chances.

Jon Mellish was then denied at the near post by Newcastle keeper Max Thompson before Callum Guy and Gibson tested the home No1.

Newcastle broke well in the 11th minute as Nathan Carlyon shot wide of the left-hand post.

But otherwise it was all Carlisle as Jack Ellis miscued a volley from a good position and Gibson and Edmondson had further chances before the opening goal came.

Gibson was the provider as the Blues stretched Newcastle to the left and when Edmondson got a flick onto his cross, home forward Ndiweni could only divert the ball into his own net.

Carlisle were, in the main, sharper and stronger than their young opponents, Moxon dictating much of their play and showing no ill-effects from his recent injury absence.

They came very close to a second when Gibson received the ball from Mellish before rattling the inside of the left-hand post.

At the other end, Amadou Diallo saw a shot blocked by Sam Lavelle before Callum Guy rifled wide from the edge of the box for Carlisle and Gibson saw a free-kick pushed around the post by Thompson.

Newcastle made a triple change at the break as Carlisle sent the same XI back out for the second half.

And the young Magpies made a brighter start to the second half, as sub Dylan Charlton added some urgency to their play down the left and Diallo's skill earned a free-kick which he sent over the bar from 25 yards.

Carlisle, though, should have doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Edmondson flicked the ball out to Jack Armer, whose low cross beat the defence and set up Gibson to finish - only for sub keeper Will Brown superbly to save his close-range shot on the line.

Moxon then ghosted past two defenders only to be denied by Brown.

After a glut of substitutions - Carlisle bringing on Dan Butterworth, Ben Barclay and Taylor Charters, Newcastle making four changes - one of the new Magpies arrivals came close to a leveller.

But after being picked out in space in the middle, James Huntley couldn't steer his header past Tomas Holy.

The hosts threatened again through Lucas De Bolle but Guy charged down his shot from the edge of the area.

Newcastle's string of substitutes had improved their game and they often threatened to trouble a Carlisle side whose own possession game and threat declined in the second half.

Home sub Munda rifled over the bar late on before the Blues finally broke for another goal, Armer crossing well from the left and Edmondson sliding home.

The striker was millimetres away from another goal moments later as Charters crossed, Carlisle ending things two goals to the good ahead of their next friendly at Chorley on Tuesday.

Newcastle U21: M Thompson (Brown 46), C Thompson (McArthur 46), Trialist, Wiggett (Powell 75), Hackett (Charlton 46), Carlyon, Bailey (Emerson 61), De Bolle (Munda 85), Stephenson (Huntley 61), Diallo (Crossley 61), Ndiweni (Donaldson 61).

Carlisle: Holy, Lavelle, Huntington, Mellish, Ellis (Barclay 61), Moxon (Charters 61), Guy, McCalmont, Armer, Gibson (Butterworth 61), Edmondson. Not used: Langley, Garner, Harris, Kilsby, McGeouch, Robinson, Whelan.

Goals: Ndiweni 20og, Edmondson 88.