MATCH REPORT: Carlisle United 1-3 Woking

Carlisle United 1-3 Woking 

Enterprise National League 

Brunton Park

10th December 2025

Neal Ardley’s Woking side made the mammoth trip to Brunton Park to take on a Carlisle side who, like the Cards, were unbeaten in nine going into this one. He named an unchanged lineup from the side victorious over Brackley Town last time out, with the only changes to the bench where Craig Ross was replaced by Mikey Verga, whilst Matt Ward replaced Tariq Hinds.

Carlisle, managed by the experienced Mark Hughes, lined up with key man Regan Linney in alongside Chris Conn-Clarke, whilst Luke Armstrong made the bench, he netted in the Cumbrians’ 2-0 win at Woking back in August.

A pulsating first half nearly had its first goal inside thirty seconds when fantastic play from Junior Luamba teed up Conn-Clarke inside the box, but his shot came back off the inside of the post.

Woking weathered the early storm then began having a go, with Kelly and Sanderson both testing the target before the deadlock was broken by the hosts.

A stray Beautyman pass led to Luamba racing in on goal and powerfully firing the ball high and past Jaaskelainen to give Carlisle the lead after 25 minutes.

It would be up to the Finn to keep the score at one nil as he dealt well with deflected efforts from Harvey Macadam and the dangerous Linney, who should have slotted the rebound but blazed over.

With half time nearing, Jamie Andrews decided to put his name in the hat for Goal of the Season with a quite sublime strike from range. The ball moved from left to right before cannoning off the crossbar and into the back of the net.

The hosts were understandably shell shocked and almost instantly, Josh Kelly raced in on goal but fired wide after the angle was narrowed.

But the Cards would end the half in front. Shoddy defending from the Cumbrians saw two defenders fail to clear the ball and Tunji Akinola swung his left foot, making good enough contact to beat Breeze.

Half-Time: Carlisle United 1-2 Woking

The hosts clearly had a rocket at half time as they came out with intention to hurt the Cards, mainly led by the dangerous Conn-Clarke, but corners, free kicks and deliveries into the box were all dealt with by Woking.

It could have been all over with just over twenty minutes left, however, as Kelly was allowed to ghost into the penalty area but could only drag his shot wide.

As pressure mounted on the hosts from their own crowd, Woking were continuing to frustrate Mark Hughes’ side, who had nothing of note to shout about minus Georgie Kelly throwing himself to the floor and asking for a penalty.

With the game ticking into added time, a long ball from Jaaskelainen was well controlled and finished low past Gabe Breeze by Aiden O’Brien, sending the 34 travelling Cards wild.

A phenomenal performance and deserved win at a place where just one side had tasted victory before tonight, as the Cards go ten unbeaten with 22 points from those ten games.

 

Woking: Jaaskelainen, Drewe, Okoli, Tunji Akinola, Odusina (Turner 90), Richards, Timmy Akinola, Andrews, Beautyman (O’Brien 79′), Sanderson (Boatswain 49′)

Unused substitutes: Verga, Ward, Osude

Goalscorers: Andrews 43, Tunji Akinola 45+2, O’Brien 90

Player of the Match: Timmy Akinola ran rings round the Carlisle midfield, a phenomenal display but in truth, this could go to anyone.

Attendance: 5,264 (34 Woking fans).