By Jon Colman

Last updated 13:09, Thursday, 04 September 2008

Ronnie Wallwork completed 90 minutes for Carlisle United’s reserves yesterday as the Blues cruised to a 4-1 win against Hartlepool.

Ronnie Wallwork

The free agent, who is training with the Blues, helped an experienced Cumbrians’ second-string see off their north-east hosts in the first game of the Central League Cup.

Defender Josh Gowling, back from a broken nose, also came through the game unscathed as he bids to get back into first-team contention.

Former Manchester United and West Brom ace Wallwork, 30, has been training with John Ward’s squad for the last week, and the manager said the midfielder is still some distance away from being ready for consideration as a first-team player.

“Yesterday told us what we thought we knew about Ronnie,” said Ward. “”He is good with the football but he needs to get his fitness levels up. The other boys are eight weeks in front of him.

“He needs to keep training and working on that and I’m willing to let him do that here.

“He can stay around the boys and play a few games, and we will see where that takes us.”

Luke Joyce, Michael Bridges, Gary Madine and Grant Smith were all on target for the reserves. New signing Richard Keogh partnered Gowling in defence.

Ward, meanwhile, is on the four-man shortlist to be named League One manager of the month. The United boss is up against Leicester’s Nigel Pearson, Oldham’s John Sheridan and Brighton’s Mickey Adams and the winner will be revealed at 1.20pm today on Sky Sports News.

Blues striker Danny Graham is also in line for a personal gong after being shortlisted for the Powerade League One player of the month award for August.

The five-goal frontman rivals Leicester’s Matty Fryatt, Leeds’ Jermaine Beckford and Oldham’s Chris Taylor for the honour, which will be announced on Monday.

Tickets for United’s home clash with Leeds on September 20 will now go on general sale immediately after this Saturday’s game against Southend.

They were initially going to be available to priority groups from Monday and other fans from Wednesday. But they will now go on sale to all supporters at 4.45pm on Saturday.

JColman@cngroup.co.uk