An inexperienced Reserve side headed to top of the table Carlisle on Wednesday night in the final game of the reserve season. Pool who lay in third place in the table were always going to be up against it as with the hosts fielding a far more experienced side including one time Pool target Mark Rivers.

Steve Thompson's fledglings however, remained positive and gave a great account of themselves and in the opening minute snatched the lead, Phil Doran scampered down the left flank before seeing his cross met by Alex Smith who beat 'keeper Williams to the ball, and seven minutes later Pool who began brightly could have doubled their lead when Smith found space 20 yards out. He connected well but sent it right at Williams, making it easy for the United keeper to gather.

The 12th minute saw Pool make a quick break down the Carlisle right with a floated cross evading Grand and dropping nicely for Matthew Ogden. His first touch was too heavy and Williams was able to recover and claim the effort.

The hosts first real attack with any purpose came on 13 minutes when a Hackney run and cross was half cleared. Dalton got to it and went for an early shot, hitting it in to the deck and wide of the goal.

Carlisle's Dan Kirkup put a 7-yard header inches over four minutes later but on 19 minutes Carlisle were back on level terms, intelligent play by Mark Rivers and Ashley Combe in the led to a penalty for Carlisle as the pair carved a route down the right hand side. Rivers got to the goal line and sent a perfect cross in to the box. Hackney was there to head it but a shove in the back brought an immediate whistle from the Ref and a spot kick for Simon Grand. He made no mistake as he rifled it in to the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Carlisle found themselves in the lead on the very next attackwhen Simon Grand stayed strong at the back. His clearance came to Rivers and a sublime onwards pass put Simon Hackney free in the box. He won the race with the onrushing Kyle Clancy and a 10 yard toe poke was enough to take it over the diving keeper and in to the net.

Trialist Nick Linford had a wild shot for Blackpool in a rare attack following the Carlisle double but it was the Cumbrians who were looking more threatening Simon Grand headed over from a McGill corner Hackney and McGill combined to set the chance up, fortunately for Pool Kyle Clancy did exceptionally well to tip over .

Hindmarch was close again when McGill put him one on one with Clancy and he took it past the keeper and looked to have the goal at his mercy. However, the angle was growing ever more acute and the young striker could only send his shot wild as he tried to get his foot round the ball.

Simon Hackney scored his second of the evening after some dazzling Rivers footwork on the right. His cross was between the defender and the keeper and Hackney was able to power a header beyond Clancy and in to the net from just 3 yards.

A testing free kick brought confusion in the Blackpool defence as Kirkup muscled his way on to it and nodded the ball down. Hesitation allowed Grand to step forward and swing his foot at it, but it rose and looped just over the bar.

Seven minutes before the break Pool forced the Carlisle stopper in to a fantastic save when Matt Shaw used his pace to get in to a crossing position. Smith was on to it, side footing it from 5 yards out, but the United keeper had made himself big and was able to block it on the line.

The 41st minute saw United extend their lead when a defensive error put Rivers in to the area. Bayliss tried to head the ball clear but it slid off him and beyond the covering defenders. Mark Rivers drew the keeper and walloped it in to the bottom corner with a crisp, left foot shot.

Morella came on to replace the injured Ogden just before half time and Perry-Acton dragged a low shot across the face of the Carlisle goal as the first 45 minutes ended with the Cumbrians well on top.

Half Time: United 4 - 1 Blackpool

A quiet start to the second half saw the game suddenly explode in to action again when Hackney picked a loose ball up in midfield. He went on a 40 yard sprint that took him inside the area and Clancy needed his finger tips to prevent the United wide man from claiming his hat-trick.

Mark Rivers was then judged to be offside when he buried his near post header beyond the Tangerines' keeper in the 53rd minute. The celebrations were in full flow for a good few seconds before the raised flag was spotted.

Pete Ferris showed a touch of class in the 56th minute when he trapped the ball and turned his man tight on the goal line. He skipped inside but his shot from just 5 yards was blocked at the vital moment.

Persistence from Ferris in the 62nd minute led to two blocked shots when he robbed the defender on the edge of the box. Hindmarch was first to try but it was Rivers who would really test Clancy, taking the keeper to full length to force him to make a parried save.

A neat short corner routine in the 64th minute ended when Kirkup got too much on the header as Hackney curled a wicked cross in. James Earl came on for Pete Ferris immediately after, followed by Shaun Vipond for Simon Hackney in a much quieter period of the game.

Blackpool won themselves a free kick right on the edge of the box in the 72nd minute and Matthew Kay was millimetres away from scoring a spectacular goal as it dropped just over the cross bar.

United responded to the scare well with a move down the Balckpool right that saw Hardman put a cross towards Rivers. He met it with a powerful header that Clancy got his fingertips to as he sent it away for a corner.

Morella brought the best out of the hosts keeper 10 minutes from time when he crashed a low shot towards the bottom corner but the Carlisle keeper had watched it all the way, putting a strong hand on it to make sure it went behind for a corner.

The result saw Carlisle crowned as Champions, but Pool coach Steve Thompson paid tribute to his youngsters, "I thought we did ever so well, we were a very young side, which included some of the Under 16's team. We held our own and gave them a fright early on. The lads never gave up and I am really proud of their effort and commitment."

Blackpool: K Clancy, Metcalfe, Doran, S Clancy, Bayliss (Penswick 82), Linford, Shaw, Ogden (Morella 42), Smiuth, Kay, Perry-Acton (McMenemy 82). Subs: Matthews.