Penrith 5 Carlisle United 2: Holders Carlisle United were knocked out of the Cumberland Cup at the quarter-final stage as Penrith claimed an emphatic victory.

A United side comprised of youth team players were well beaten by Dave Hewson’s men at Frenchfield Park.

Jonny Studholme and Kevin Connelly put the hosts into an early two-goal lead, and after Jimiel Chikukwa hit back for Carlisle, Luke Brown and Stuart Johnson made it 4-1 after the break.

Keelan Leslie gave United late hope but an impressive Mal Holliday strike confirmed Penrith’s place in the last four, where they will face a trip to Cleator Moor Celtic.

Studholme got the first goal after four minutes, slotting low past Isaac Robinson after United struggled to clear a Ben Clarke cross.

Then, after Jamie Armstrong and Leslie tried to hit back for the Cumbrians, it was 2-0 on eight minutes, United caught cold as Grant Davidson’s cross from the right was turned in by Connelly.

Carlisle came back into things but serious chances were hard to come by until Chikukwa halved the deficit on 35 minutes.

The young frontman, who is on work experience from Leeds, broke onto a ball down the left and, after getting behind the home defence, slotted it low across keeper Luke Miller.

Penrith lost Connelly to a first-half injury and his replacement, Brown, could have restored their two-goal advantage, but he headed over the bar when picked out by Ric Faustino.

Lewis Bell shot over for Carlisle while Kingsley Grandison fired wide for Hewson’s side before the break.

United brought on Charlie Birch for Liam Lightfoot at the start of the second half, but the home side then did grab a third when, on 55 minutes, Brown was able to turn in the box as he held off defenders and shot past Robinson.

Hewson’s side then increased their lead further when, in the 67th minute, Johnson arrived onto a Clarke cross from the right to send a volley into the bottom right corner.

Keelan Leslie pulled one back for Carlisle when he headed home a Birch free-kick five minutes from time but Penrith wrapped things up with the goal of the night in the 89th minute when sub Holliday beat Robinson with a fine strike from outside the box.

The other semi-final will see Workington Reds at home to either Workington Athletic or Kirkoswald.

There was a minute's silence before the game at Frenchfield Park in memory of former Penrith players Bobby Watson and Geoff Yare.

Penrith: Miller, Faustino, Metcalfe, Johnson, Moynan, Law (Main 63), Clarke, Studholme, Connelly (L Brown 34), Davidson, Grandison (Holliday 72). Not used: Paul, May.

United: Robinson, Barnes, Steele (Ellis 75), Lightfoot (Birch 46), Wilson, Day, Armstrong (Taylor 71), Walton, Chikukwa, Leslie, Bell. Not used: Soper, Breeze.