Mark Birch hailed two-goal Dan Hopper’s impact for Carlisle United – and said the teenager has the ingredients to be a "really good player".

The midfielder – son of late Blues legend Tony Hopper – scored twice in United's 4-1 Fred Conway Cumberland Cup second round victory at Aspatria.

Hopper, a first-year youth player at Brunton Park, made his impact after coming off the bench in the second half of Wednesday's tie.

And United’s Under-18 manager Birch says he hopes the game can be a springboard for the promising 16-year-old.

“I think Dan deserves that, because of the way he’s gone about his training,” said Birch.

“It took him a bit of time to settle into the group, but he has got so much ability.

“We’ve just got to find a way of him believing in himself, because that’s what he does every day in training.

“When he really finds his place he could be a really good player. Hopefully [this game] will be the springboard for him to kick on.”

Hopper’s goals came in between efforts from Josh O’Brien and Freddie O’Donoghue as a young Blues side came from behind in the game played at Aspatria RUFC’s Bower Park.

Kieran McCluskey gave the Cumberland County League Premier Division side the lead before United fought back.

Birch had plenty of praise for his young team – as well as Carlisle’s spirited hosts.

“There were a couple of hundred [there], maybe more, there was a good atmosphere and everything was in good spirit,” said the coach.

News and Star: United won 4-1 at Bower ParkUnited won 4-1 at Bower Park (Image: News & Star)

“Yes, we’re playing at a rugby club but you have to say that Aspatria went about it in the right way. They made a really competitive game of it without it being anything underhand, and fair play to them as well.” Aspatria have estimated the attendance close to 700.

Birch said United’s teenage side showed good character to come from behind in a game where Simpson, unlike in the previous round at Carlisle City, had declined to involve any of his senior players.

“[Aspatria’s goal] gave the place a bit of life, gave the locals here a bit of hope. Fair play, they took the opportunity and gave us something to work at,” the youth team boss added.

“But our lads were fantastic, they kept going, kept to the job, they didn’t panic, and when they got the opportunities near the end, they took them well.

“Results haven’t been the way we wanted recently and sometimes heads can go down but [here], especially when we did create quite a few opportunities, it just wouldn’t fall for us first half, but the pleasing thing is we kept that belief.

“The [equalising] goal we scored was probably a bit scrappy, but in the second half we were quite clinical in front of goal and took our chances well.”

“This sort of game is a different kind of experience,” Birch added. “Physically it’s always going to be tough but you’ve got to find what your super strength is and try and combat it. Especially in the second half we did that.

News and Star: The game was played at Aspatria RUFC's Bower ParkThe game was played at Aspatria RUFC's Bower Park (Image: News & Star)

“It’s about finding a way to win. When the lads get the opportunity they’ve got to make sure they do themselves justice, and they did.”

It was a happier night for Carlisle’s young players than their recent FA Youth Cup first round defeat at the hands of Barnsley last week.

United’s academy has also come in for criticism from manager Simpson recently.

Birch added: “That’s the ups and downs of football. You get the other night in the Youth Cup, when we were up against a really good team, but if you stay in football a really long time you realise you get a lot of downs and the odd occasion when everything’s on the up.

“It’s about how quickly you put the downs behind you and move on.”

United’s captain Jake Allan had to be substituted early in the second half after suffering a head injury as he competed for a corner.

After several minutes of treatment the midfielder was helped to his feet and went off to be replaced by Hopper.

“He’s got a bit of a sore head – we’ll see how he is,” added Birch after the game. “I’ll leave that to Helen [Mathie, United’s academy physio] and hopefully it’s not too bad.”