Loan watch and ex-Blues: Hopper on target, Robson off injured
Dan Hopper was on the scoresheet as the Carlisle United teenager helped Penrith to victory in their last home game of the season.
The Blues youth team player netted in the 59th minute to seal a 2-0 win against Whitley Bay for Darren Edmondson's Northern League Division One side.
Hopper's strike, which followed Luke Hunter's opener, was the 17-year-old's fifth since joining the Bonny Blues on work experience in December.
His last game for Edmondson's 17th-placed side will come at Shildon next weekend. Hopper, the son of the late United and Workington Reds hero Tony, has been offered a deal to stay at Brunton Park.
Also in Northern League Division One, Josh O'Brien helped Carlisle City to a clean sheet and a victory.
The Blues defender was in Dan Kirkup's XI as they won 1-0 at Seaham Red Star thanks to Jordan Irving's goal. Their final league game comes at home to Northallerton Town next Saturday.
North of the border, Luke Armstrong was a substitute for Motherwell in their 0-0 draw with Heart of Midlothian, the striker coming off the bench in the 71st minute for Michael Wimmer's side in the Scottish Premiership clash.
Taylor Charters got his latest start as Queen of the South claimed another victory, the Blues man playing the first 65 minutes as Peter Murphy's side defeated Montrose 2-1.
It was an 11th appearance for Charters with the Doonhamers, as they won a third straight game. They remain fourth ahead of next Saturday's trip to sixth-placed Kelty Hearts.
There was an injury blow for another United loanee as Ethan Robson limped off in his third Gateshead appearance.
The midfielder had to go off after just 38 minutes as Carl Magnay's side won 3-2 at Forest Green Rovers in the National League.
38 | Horton replaces Robson in an enforced change. 🟢 0-1 🐐 | #WorClub ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/lv84AglJif
— Gateshead FC (@GatesheadFC) April 12, 2025
The north east side are fifth and Robson will hope to return for the rest of their run-in, with a home clash with York City next on Good Friday.
In National League North, Sam Hetherington came off the bench in the 75th minute for his latest Darlington appearance at Chester, as the Quakers went down to a 2-1 defeat. Next for the young Blues player and his team-mates is a Friday clash with South Shields.
Neither Jake Allan nor Aran Fitzpatrick were involved for Workington Reds in their 1-0 defeat to Leek Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
A number of ex-Blues were in the thick of the weekend action, meanwhile.
In the Premier League, Jarrad Branthwaite helped Everton to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, but Dean Henderson was on the receiving end as Manchester City fought back to defeat Crystal Palace 5-2.
The Championship saw Jerry Yates on target for Derby County in their 2-2 draw at Portsmouth, while on Friday James Trafford helped promotion-chasing Burnley to a 2-1 home win over Norwich City.
In League One, Jack Diamond netted Stockport County's first goal as they came from behind to win 3-1 against Rotherham United, with both Owen Moxon and Oliver Norwood also starting in the Hatters' midfield.
WHAT A HIT THAT IS!#StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/4itciiDuhU
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) April 12, 2025
Jon Mellish returned to the Wigan Athletic starting XI as the Latics drew 0-0 with Wrexham.
League Two saw two ex-Blues play a key part in a dramatic fightback in the relegation battle, as Omari Patrick (two) and Kristian Dennis scored as Tranmere Rovers came from 3-0 down after 78 minutes to draw 3-3 with Accrington Stanley – Patrick hitting the equaliser in the 11th minute of added time.
The SCENES here are some of the greatest you will see! 😲 Tranmere comeback from 3-0 down and every goal is a banger 👏@TranmereRovers | @EFL pic.twitter.com/qitHmhn2fb
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 12, 2025
The sons of ex-United managers were in the goals again, with Aaron Pressley (son of Steven) scoring in Barrow's 2-0 win over Walsall, and Calum Kavanagh (son of Graham) hitting a hat-trick in Bradford City's remarkable 5-4 defeat at Swindon Town.
Paddy Madden scored to seal Chesterfield's 3-0 win over Fleetwood Town.
In the National League, Ryan Carr opened the scoring for relegated Ebbsfleet United in their 4-1 win over Sutton United.
Quick feet by Aoraha allows him to slot the ball into the path of Carr who makes no mistake with his shot from inside the area! EUFC 1-0 SUFC https://t.co/TL2MshrOuB
— Ebbsfleet United FC (@EUFCofficial) April 12, 2025
Northern League Division One saw Max Cowburn score West Allotment Celtic's consolation goal from the penalty spot in a 3-1 defeat at Tow Law Town.
There was a goal for 43-year-old Derek Asamoah in Haringey Borough's 2-0 win over Heybridge Swifts in the Isthmian League North Division.
And in the Scottish Championship, there was an eventful evening for Ethan Walker, who scored a late equaliser and was then sent off for a second bookable offence in Ayr United's 1-1 draw with Falkirk.
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