Carlisle United fell to a late 2-1 defeat against Boreham Wood in the Enterprise National League play-off semi-final at Brunton Park.
Goals from Abdul Abdulmalik and Zak Brunt cancelled out Morgan Feeney’s equaliser to send the visitors to Wembley.
Mark Hughes made three changes from last weekend’s victory over Brackley Town, with Gabe Breeze, Morgan Feeney, Harvey Macadam and Regan Linney coming into the side.
It was the visitors who started on the front-foot, with chances falling to both Charlie O’Connell and Abdulmalik.
Callum Whelan came close to opening the scoring for the Blues from distance, with an effort from distance, after a cleverly worked set-piece routine.
It was Wood who took the lead in the 28th minute after Abdulmalik’s long-range effort snuck past Breeze.
United would level proceedings just over 10 minutes later through captain Morgan Feeney, who got on the end of David Ajiboye’s ball through, before finishing from a tight angle past Ted Curd.
Buoyed on by the equaliser, the Blues very nearly turned it around in the closing stages of the first-half when Linney had a dipping effort that just dropped wide of Boreham Wood’s goal.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 Boreham Wood
United took greater control of the second-half, Linney was a bright spark throughout, and was unfortunate not to break the deadlock after forcing Curd into multiple top saves.
Georgie Kelly looked to have given the Blues a late lead after stabbing the ball past Curd, but referee Martin Woods ruled it out for an apparent handball.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 Boreham Wood
Within a minute of extra-time starting, substitute Chris Conn-Clarke came agonisingly close to scoring from distance, but his strike was superbly saved by Curd.
The game took an unfortunate turn for United in the 95th minute when Junior Luamba was sent-off for a late challenge on Brunt.
Having been reduced to 10-men, the Blues were forced to drop into a deep defensive shape.
Breeze would be called upon to make several key saves for the remainder of the match.
HALF-TIME OF EXTRA-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 Boreham Wood
Within a minute of the restart, United would find themselves behind after Brunt finished from a wide angle past Breeze.
Aaron Hayden would come close to levelling the game after getting on the end of Conn-Clarke's cross, but his header was off target.
United tried to salvage a late equaliser, but the visitors would stand strong as the season ended in defeat.
FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA-TIME: Carlisle United 1-2 Boreham Wood
Teams:
Carlisle United: Breeze, Feeney (C), Hayden, Ajiboye (Luamba 79’), Whelan (Conn-Clarke 79’), Linney, Galvin (Mugabi 113’), Wearne (Yeboah 103’), Willams, Armstrong (Kelly 79’), Macadam (Ellis 98’)
Unused subs: Mair
Boreham Wood: Curd, Ilesanmi, Bush, O’Connell, Brunt (Landers 111’), Abdulmalik (Coxe 116’), Ayinde (Richardson 81’), Clarke, White (C), Booty (Reynolds 70’), Rush
Unused subs: Ashmore, Sousa, Henry
Goals:
Carlisle United – (Feeney 40’)
Boreham Wood – (Abdulmalik 28’), (Brunt 106’)
Yellow cards:
Carlisle United – (Galvin 37’), (Hayden 90+4), (Feeney 120+2’)
Boreham Wood – (Ayinde 64’), (Booty 70’), (White 90+1), (Bush 90+4),
Red cards:
Carlisle United – (Luamba 96’)
Boreham Wood – N/A
Match officials:
Referee – Martin Woods
Assistant Referee 1 – William Cavanagh
Assistant Referee 2 – James Tewson
Fourth Official – Declan Brown
Attendance:
13,814 (307 Away)
