Binnion reacts to win at Carlisle

Goals from Charlie McNeill and Omari Forson in each half secured the three points for the young Reds at Brunton Park on Tuesday night, in front of a significant away following.

United are in our fourth season in this competition but it was a first chance for many of the side to test themselves against a senior outfit and Binnion was happy with what he saw.

“It was my first taste of it and a lot of the lads’ first taste of it and it was just a brilliant experience in terms of the challenge in front of us: the moments in the game when we were really dominant, the moments when we were really up against it and it was a bit helter-skelter,” said Binnion.

“Their manager said to me at one point ‘welcome to League Two’ and the lads would have felt that themselves so it’s a brilliant night.

“Our job is to try to have the ball more, to be dominant in the game and make it look like we want it too.

“Look, you can’t do that in all moments of every game and it’s important our boys learn that and learn to get through difficult moments. Learn to stick together and find a way. That’s what we did.”

Jamie Devitt equalised for the Cumbrians midway through the second half, but Binnion was delighted with the way we responded to that setback.

“I think we should have won the second half by more goals so I don’t think we changed our approach, really.

“Obviously we were 1-0 up, we made a couple of changes and it went 1-1 straightaway but I think we finished the game really strongly.

“It was nice to see we should have scored more goals so we still had that attacking intent about us but we still had to make blocks, defend crosses and get back in numbers, so it was everything you want from a game of football for lads this age.”

Goalscorer Forson also remarked upon the support the lads received from travelling Reds on the night.

“It was an amazing feeling. We don’t normally get as many fans as who turned up today so it meant a lot to celebrate with them,” he told reporter Ben Ibson after the final whistle.

“I’m really happy. My mum, my dad and my sister were in the crowd, so I’m really happy. It was a very difficult game, I’m not going to lie.

“They’re men, they know how to play and how to deal with different challenges, so it was a very difficult game for us.”

Barrow beat Fleetwood Town on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the other Group G game, meaning United sit top of the group ahead of our visit to Barrow's Holker Street in October.