Match Report: United 3 - 3 Boreham Wood

16 August 2025

Carlisle United 3 - 3 Boreham Wood

There was a real sense of optimism around Brunton Park ahead of kick off and chants of ‘United, United’ greeted the teams as they made their way out of the tunnel.

The game started at a slow pace despite the build-up, but the first chance of the day came on four minutes when Embleton swept a corner into the box. Armstrong met it with an audacious back-heeled volley that flew past the post.

Boreham responded with some good pressure from out wide as Chris Bush twice floated balls into the area. Abdulmalik got the second of his clipped deliveries under control but his 15-yard grasscutter was straight at Breeze.

Another excellent Embleton corner at the other end had Hayden interested as the action ticked along, without quite finding a spark, but the defender wheeled away in disappointment as his header dropped wide.

Thomas was needed for a last-ditch challenge as Ilesanmi and Sousa combined on the 18-yard line. It was a vital toe that kept the danger at bay as Ilesanmi looked to burst through.

Breeze was tested just past the half hour when the lively Abdulmalik let fly from distance, but he did well to readjust and push it away from the top corner with both palms.

Set pieces provided the best of the action and a miscued inswinger from Embleton almost worked as Armstrong got a touch at the front stick. Ashmore pushed it onto the post and Coxe completed the clearance.

The deadlock was broken on 40 minutes when the visitors carved their way through a static back line. The defence splitting touch from Sousa was sublime - he could have gone left or right or even taken it on himself - and Luke Norris finished expertly with the deftest of touches that left Breeze with no chance.

The Cumbrians looked for a response, with Linney active and Armstrong always available, but the away team looked good for their half-time lead.

Substitute Georgie Kelly made an immediate impact after the break when the visitors struggled to clear their lines. Armstrong latched onto it, bent away from the challenge, and his flicked pass brought a lovely finish from the big striker as he guided it into the bottom corner.

A volley from close range from Macadam sailed over the bar when it looked easier to score as the Cumbrians smelled blood, and they capitalised on their increasing confidence when Linney streaked into the box. He dumped his man on the floor before rattling it under the stopper and over the line.

Boreham should have been back on terms on the hour when Tom Whelan shrugged Thomas off the ball. He angled his run at the near post but his attempt at a chip screwed well wide.

Carlisle picked the pace up, and Linney scored an early contender for goal of the season with 20 minutes left to play when he checked back before stroking a beauty of an effort into the top corner.

But there were grumbles from the terraces as the hosts conceded possession and dialled down the pace, and Breeze had to scramble to tip an attempted lob from Norris over the target as the clock ticked down.

And the big stopper could do nothing but berate his defenders on 79 minutes when the same man thundered a 10-yard free header into the waiting net. O’Connell was the provider after he'd made full use of the time he’d been given to arrow his pass into the danger area.

Robson had a low free kick saved at the front post as United looked to reassert their authority, but Wood clawed the game back to all-square with what can only be described as a regulation set piece. Floated high from the left flank it went long and was nodded down and past a desperate dive from Breeze by Charlie O’Connell as he arrived unimpeded to pop it into the bottom corner.

Both teams exchanged half chances through time added on and Jack Ellis was presented with an opportunity to grab the headlines when he steamed in late in the day. Just ten yards out he couldn’t keep his shot on the run down and it sailed high over the bar.

The final whistle was greeted by some disquiet from the sizeable home contingent, perhaps understandable when you consider it’s been close to two years of poor performances and results on their own patch for this particular set of die-hards. They keep turning out in numbers but there’s no doubt that the point is fast approaching where this incredible display of patience must be rewarded.

Carlisle United - Breeze (gk), Harper, Thomas ©, Hayden, Ajiboye (Kelly 46), C Whelan (Robson 80), Linney (Luamba 90), Embleton, Ellis, Armstrong (Wearne 80), Macadam. Subs - Lewis (gk), Davies, Mugabi.

Goals - Kelly (49), Linney (53, 70)

Bookings - Hughes (45), Wearne (87)

Boreham Wood - Ashmore (gk), Coxe, Ilesanmi (Dixon 62), Bush, O’Connell, Sousa, Abdulmalik (Rush 55), Reynolds ©, Clayden (T Whelan 56), Norris (Benton 90), White. Subs - Henry, King.

Goals - Norris (40, 79) (84)

Bookings - Garrard (45), O’Connell (86)

Referee - James Westgate

Attendance (8,741 - 45 away)

Images supplied by Ben Holmes