Carlisle United fell to back-to-back league defeats with a 2-0 loss to Boreham Wood at the Mangata Developments Stadium.
First-half goals from Abdul Abdulmalik and Zak Brunt gave the Wood the three points to overtake United in the Enterprise National League standings.
Mark Hughes made seven changes from the Blues’ Isuzu FA Trophy win at Harborough Town, with Georgie Kelly, Josh Williams, Harvey Macadam, Gabe Breeze, Cameron Harper, Morgan Feeney and Aaron Hayden coming into the starting line-up.
Matt Rush nearly gave the Wood the perfect start when he raced through on goal within ten seconds, but his chip attempt drifted wide.
United’s first chance came when Williams picked up a loose ball and drove at the hosts’ defence before finding Wearne, who returned a pass to the winger to strike at goal, but his effort was deflected to Kelly to overhead kick over the bar.
Gabe Breeze had to pull off a sharp stop to deny Chris Bush’s low-driven effort with an outstretched boot after Regan Booty slipped him through.
Linney was provided with a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring when Wearne stole the ball from the Wood’s defence, but the Blues number ten’s effort was straight at Ted Curd.
Luke Garrard’s side took the lead in the 31st minute when a fast counterattack saw the ball worked to Brunt on the edge of the box to caress a shot into the bottom corner.
United looked to respond when Wearne’s floated cross was met by a powerful Kelly header, which flew wide.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 37th minute through Abdulmalik when Rush went through on the right, Breeze saved his shot, but the Wood’s left winger was there to fire home on the rebound.
HALF-TIME: Boreham Wood 2-0 Carlisle United
Linney tried to spark United into life when he charged down a clearance and raced forward, but his shot found the side netting.
Abdulmalik’s quality continued to shine as he went past Williams with ease and found Brunt, who blazed his shot over the bar.
A neat short corner routine from the hosts allowed them to deliver a cross from the left, which Callum Reynolds met, but the header was straight at Breeze.
Macadam found space down the right to deliver a cross into the Wood’s penalty area, but Kelly’s header was high over the bar.
Linney managed to find a pocket of space in the hosts’ penalty area, but his effort was fired wide as United failed to find a breakthrough.
FULL-TIME: Boreham Wood 2-0 Carlisle United
Teams:
Boreham Wood: Curd, Bush, O'Connell, Sousa, Brunt (Richardson 82), Abdulmalik (Clayden 73), Newton (Ilesanmi 67), King, Reynolds, Booty, Rush
Not used: Coxe, Payne, Benton, Norris
Carlisle United: Breeze, Harper, Feeney, Hayden, Ellis (Jones 60), Kelly, Linney, Wearne (Embleton 60), Gilliead, Williams, Macadam (Ajiboye 88)
Not used: Randall, Whelan, Mugabi, Mason
Goals:
Boreham Wood – (Brunt 31) (Abdulmalik 37)
Carlisle United – N/A
Yellow cards:
Boreham Wood – (King 54)
Carlisle United – (Hayden 27) (Kelly 48) (Jones 89)
Red cards:
Boreham Wood – N/A
Carlisle United – N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Isaac Searle
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Hickman
Assistant Referee 2 - Joe Wright
Fourth Official - Steven Hughes
Attendance:
1866 (641 away)
