Aston Villa’s Papa John's Trophy campaign came to an end with defeat against Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Tuesday evening.
In an evenly-matched first half, Micah Obiero put the Cumbrians ahead with a smart finish after 32 minutes.
An early Gimi Toure goal kickstarted the second half for the home side, who added a third through Gavin Reilly’s long-range effort.
A valiant Villa performance was rewarded when substitute Harrison Sohna finished off a slick team move in the 82nd minute.
With a number of his usual squad on international duty, Mark Delaney drafted in a few of the club’s Under-18s for the game.
And it was one of those youngsters, Charlie Farr, who registered the first shot of the match after six minutes, turning the ball just past the post after a surging 50-yard dash from Tyreik Wright.
Apart from a few crosses, Akos Onodi had little to do until he was picking the ball out of his net after 32 minutes as the hosts snatched the lead.
A well-worked move down the left resulted in Obiero slamming home first time after Onodi had parried Omari Patrick’s shot.
The goal was harsh on the visitors, who twice came close to equalising in the three minutes of first half injury-time.
First, Wright sent a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the post before Arjan Raikhy whizzed a low shot just past the upright.
Moments into the second half, Paul Appiah made a superb interception to deny Reilly a certain goal – but it proved to be only a temporary reprieve for the Villans.
A free-kick from the right-hand side caused a headache for Onodi, and after the ‘keeper missed the ball with his punch, Toure was left to head into an empty net.
A third followed midway through the half as Reilly nicked the ball just inside Villa’s half before bearing down on goal and firing a low effort past Onodi.
Seb Revan smashed a shot into the sidenetting at the end of a crisp passing move before Villa finally got a reward for their efforts.
Wright broke away down the left-hand side before cutting the ball back to the onrushing Sohna, who smartly buried the ball in the bottom corner.
Aston Villa: Onodi, C.Rowe (Chrisene 60’), Appiah, D.Revan, S.Revan, Sylla (H.Sohna 70’), Bogarde, Raikhy (Lindley 79)’, Wright, Young, Farr.
Unused subs: Marschall, Swinkels, E.Rowe.
