Fleetwood Town's Under-18s were unfortunate to come away with no points from their Youth Alliance fixture against Carlisle United, which ended in a narrow 2-1 loss at Poolfoot Farm.
It was the visitors who drew first blood after breaking the deadlock early on when a long ball was played down the right and was able to capitalise on a slip at the back. Even though Roman Khela managed to block the initial shot, Carlisle converted at the second time of asking.
Ten minutes into the second half, they managed to double their lead and it all came from a corner; the ball fell to the feet of a Carlisle man on the edge of the box, who tried his luck with a half-volley, which flew into the bottom right past Rio Cragg.
Mark Yeates' side did pull one back with eight minutes to go, which started a potential comeback as Kyle King whipped in a corner from the right, which was cleared but only to the feet of Kayden Hughes.
His shot was blocked and deflected into the path of Will Johnson, who poked home from close range, bringing the score line back to 2-1 with not long to go.
A chance to salvage a point came in the final seconds of the clash and it was Johnson almost on the end of it once again. Ryan Hand, who was filling in at left-back, slipped the ball through to substitute Zane Marsh.
He dribbled around the keeper and looked for the captain, but a vital defensive block stopped the move in its tracks and meant the points would travel down the road with the young Carlisle side.
Town XI: Cragg (GK), Jones, Khela, Butterworth (Glenfield 46'), Hughes, Hand, King, W.Johnson, Brown, Richmond (Marsh 76'), Lane.