Carlisle United suffered a 5-1 defeat in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Sunderland this afternoon.

Teenage midfielder Taylor Charters scored in the second half for the Cumbrians' line-up.

United were 4-0 adrift at the break before a more even second period.

The game saw Louis Gray, Aaron Hayden, Jon Mellish, Jarrad Branthwaite, Mo Sagaf, Olufela Olomola and Keighran Kerr all start from Steven Pressley's professional ranks.

Youth team players Charlie Birch, Liam Lightfoot and Lewis Bell also got an outing.

No details have been given about the Sunderland side but Carlisle No2 Gavin Skelton said the Black Cats fielded a "very strong" line-up. North-east reports say keeper Lee Burge and defender Joel Lynch were among those in the home team.

Skelton added: "It was a good work-out for the lads against what was a very strong Sunderland outfit.

"They were very impressive in the first half but we were pleased with the reaction of the lads after the break as we got to grips with the game a bit more.

"These games are always important as we look to keep everybody in the squad match-fit, and we have to say thanks to Sunderland for hosting us." 

United lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Hayden at right-back, and Mellish and Branthwaite partnered at centre-half.

Sagaf, Lightfoot and Charters began in midfield with a front three of Olomola, Kerr and Bell.

United: Gray, Hayden, Birch (Barnes), Mellish, Branthwaite, Sagaf, Lightfoot (Walton), Charters, Bell (Armstrong), Olomola, Kerr (Wilson). Not used: Robinson.