Carlisle United: 'Infectious' Anton Dudik praised after goal

The 19-year-old found the net in the 4-1 win at Penrith in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup quarter-final tie.

It came after United secured international clearance for the young forward who joined on a short-term professional deal last week.

Carlisle have taken a punt on Dudik’s potential and assistant manager Skelton was pleased to see the teenager on target.

“It’s a good habit, to be a goalscorer,” he said.

“He is a good finisher – you see it in training.

Dudik warming up before last night's game (Image: Barbara Abbott)

• Match report: Dudik scores in first Blues outing at Penrith

“You warm to him – he’s got real enthusiasm. He does understand English but he picks up drills straight away.

“You see that and [realise] he’s an intelligent footballer, and he has a first-class mentality.

Dudik, left, joined United on a short-term deal last week (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“It will be interesting to see how he develops in the next few months, and getting game time [here], that’s where you get judged.

“It’s been hard to get it through and over the line with international clearance – we didn’t think he’d get it up until [Monday] night or [Tuesday] morning, so he’ll feel good and I’m pleased.

“He’s a really positive character around the club.”

Dudik, centre, hit United's second goal at Penrith on his first appearance for the club (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Dudik hit United’s second goal at Frenchfield Park either side of a Jayden Harris double, with Jake Allan completing the Blues’ scoring, former United youth player DJ Taylor firing Penrith’s consolation.

The game also saw a first Carlisle outing for Sean Grehan, with Terry Ablade, Ben Barclay and Fin Back all getting important game time after recent injuries.

Watched by manager Paul Simpson in the stand at the Leo Group Stadium, Carlisle fielded more professionals with Tomas Holy, Max Kilsby, Taylor Charters and Dylan McGeouch also starting.

“It was a professional job,” added Skelton.

“In terms of attitude, first class – brilliant the way we applied ourselves.

“The under-18s who were involved did well, the senior pros applied themselves, and it was a competitive game.

Seán Grehan made his first United appearance at Penrith (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“It was a real mixed bag in terms of the XI. You’ve got lads who are maybe frustrated they’re not getting more game time, ones that are just back from their rehab and getting game time, other ones who are further down the road, the under-18s getting minutes, Anton’s not had his clearance until now, a loan player from a Premier League club playing, Tomas playing – a real mix.

• Penrith 1-4 Carlisle United - as it happened

“We’ve had games like this before and sometimes you get a feel that it’s not quite right but here you could feel the attitude was right, led by senior pros like Ben and Tomas.

“For the first ten or 15 minutes, Penrith showed why they’ve had a good run of form under Daz [Edmondson] and Rich [Prokas] – they had more shots than us on target, so it was important we got that first goal and that helped us get control of the game.”

Two-goal Jayden Harris and young captain Aran Fitzpatrick attracted praise from Gavin Skelton (Image: Barbara Abbott)

One senior player who may have been targeting game time but missed out last night was defender Corey Whelan.

“He got injured [on Monday],” said Skelton. “It’s his ankle. Hopefully it’s not too serious.”

United’s No2 praised two-goal Harris who played a prominent role in the victory on his first game back from a recent loan spell with Eastleigh.

“His attitude was excellent. You could tell he’s been playing games,” said Skelton.

“You could tell the ones that haven’t been playing games, who didn’t have that rhythm, that second-ball mentality, that match sharpness, basically.

“I thought Jayden showed he’s been playing games. Since he’s come back his attitude has been first class.

“He’s got two goals…if we’re nit-picking, their goal came from Jayden making a bad decision, and I could see that going through his mind. I don’t blame him for going for that but credit to him, his attitude’s first class and he’s never a problem.”

Terry Ablade was among the players making a return from injury at Penrith (Image: Barbara Abbott)

There was also praise for the one youth team player in United’s starting XI – Aran Fitzpatrick, who captained the side.

“Sometimes we get into wide areas and let ourselves down with that bit of quality,” Skelton said.

“But I thought at times, especially in the first half, he [Fitzpatrick] showed real quality deliveries in the box. He’s got a great left foot.”