Paul Simpson has paid tribute to Carlisle United’s young players – plus opponents Aspatria – after this week’s county cup tie.

A teenage Blues side won 4-1 in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup second round in a game played at Aspatria RUFC’s Bower Park.

The game attracted a good crowd, with the hosts estimating numbers at around 700.

It made for an impressive occasion and United manager Simpson, who watched the game from the stand, said all parties deserve praise.

“I thought the crowd were absolutely fantastic,” said the Blues boss.

“It was a really good setting for the game.

“It was a difficult playing surface, but in all fairness it’s a rugby pitch, and our young players handled it very well.

“As a group they were fantastic. And I’ve got to credit Aspatria – they were excellent in the way they went about it.

“There’s always a concern when you’ve got young players in those types of games that it becomes a bit of a kicking game, but Aspatria were really respectful in the way they played – they tried to do it in the right way.

“And there was a brilliant crowd. The supporters turned up in their numbers.”

The Cumberland County League Premier Division side took an early lead through Kieran McCluskey.

But United’s teenagers replied through Josh O’Brien before subs Dan Hopper, with two, and Freddie O’Donoghue saw Mark Birch’s side to victory.

For Simpson it was a welcome sight after some less positive recent outings for the youth side, United’s manager having also openly criticised the club’s academy recently.

“Especially after going a goal down, our youth team players handled the whole night really well and thoroughly deserved it in the end,” added Simpson.

“I was delighted for them, especially after the disappointment of the FA Youth Cup game last week. I thought this was a real positive for the way they went about it.

“I also said to the players, I’m not sure that a group of first team players would have handled that situation any better than they did. I was delighted with what I saw from them.”