FA Youth Cup Match Report: Leicester City 2 Carlisle United 1

- Leicester City Under-18s dug deep to secure a fine 2-1 victory against Carlisle United in the FA Youth Cup fourth round

- Calvin Ughelumba and Elliott Webber strikes saw off the Cumbrians at King Power Stadium on Wednesday night

- Cameron Salkeld narrowed the deficit before the break but Trevor Peake's men held firm to see out the victory

The young Foxes, who defeated Leyton Orient 3-1 last time out, will face Middlesbrough in the next round courtesy of first-half strikes by Calvin Ughelumba and Elliott Webber in front of the Blue Army on home turf. 

Trevor Peake’s men, whose lead was cut by Cameron Salkeld before the break, reached the semi-finals in 2015 and are looking good to have another strong run in the competition with two fine victories under their belt. 

City made a bright start and it took just five minutes for them to carve out their first opening with Layton Ndukwu forcing Morgan Bacon, the Cumbrians’ shot-stopper, into a decent save down at his left post. 

Seven minutes later, the hosts were ahead when a pack of players in blue rushed into the penalty box with relish before Ughelumba got the final touch to knock it past Bacon at close range. 

Ughelumba was there again moments later to almost double Leicester’s lead after charging through the Carlisle midfield with intent before unleashing a wicked driven effort at goal, which flew inches over the crossbar.

Winger Ndukwu continued to pose questions of the visitors at the back with captain Jordan Holt diving in to block his 22-yard free-kick, which appeared at one moment to be destined to ripple in the back of the net. 

Webber, too, was a threat for City and he linked up neatly with Ndukwu just before the half-hour mark to play in his City team-mate but Bacon made another firm save to keep the scoreline respectable.

His efforts went without reward, however, as Webber tried his luck from distance in the 25th minute before watching it deflect over Bacon, off Luke Taylor, and into an empty net to double the arrears.

Salkeld's neat effort before the break made matters more interesting with the visitors, supported by a healthy following in the West Stand, growing in confidence as the match progressed.

Instead of sitting back, City kept Bacon on his toes with Webber chipping it over the Carlisle defence and setting up Ndukwu – whose dinked shot clipped the crossbar just after the restart. 

Webber almost caught Bacon out of position again soon after but the visiting ‘keeper recovered brilliantly just in time to push his ambitious effort behind for corner. 

Cameron Yates, the Foxes' stopper, made a series of crucial interventions of his own and he delivered a fantastic save on 60 minutes to deny Hall an equaliser from point blank range. 

There was nothing he could do to get a hand on Taylor’s glanced header a few moments later but to Leicester’s relief, it bobbled just wide of the far post. 

Peake would have been frustrated to see his side under pressure in the latter stages but his men nonetheless held firm, dug deep and fought hard to keep Carlisle at bay.

It almost proved not to be enough for City, however, with Jack Egan rattling the bar for the guests from 18 yards with just three minutes remaining. 

The young Foxes showed the industry and defiance necessary to see out the result, though, in front of a lively King Power Stadium crowd to set-up an intriguing clash away to Middlesbrough in the next round. 

CITY: Yates (c), Thandi, Pascanu, Johnson, Ughelumba, Brown, Leshabela, Ndukwu, Hodby, Dewsbury-Hall, Webber (Tee 62). 

SUBS NOT USED: Heaven, Harrison, Gruno, Gill. 

GOALS: Ughelumba 13, Webber 25.

CARLISLE: Bacon, Olsen, Breen, Watson (Adewusi 62), Taylor, Groves, Egan, Holt (c), Hall, Brown (Cowburn 75), Salkeld. 

SUBS NOT USED: Goldthorpe, Hutchinson, Ashton.

GOAL: Salkeld 42.

REFEREE: Robert Massey-Ellis