Carlisle United went top of the Enterprise National League with a 2-0 win over Wealdstone at Brunton Park.
Goals from Luke Armstrong and Aaron Hayden gave United a crucial victory to rise to the division’s summit.
Mark Hughes made two changes from the Blues’ 1-0 win against Morecambe in midweek, with Cameron Harper and Callum Whelan replacing Jordan Jones and Elliot Embleton.
Regan Linney had the first effort of the game for United, dragging a shot wide after Hayden’s acrobatic effort from a corner fell to him inside the box.
Josh Williams brought a superb save out of Dante-Astor Baptiste when the ball fell to the Blues’ right-back, who hit a driven shot towards the top corner, but the Stones’ stopper matched the effort.
The Blues took the lead in the 25th minute after Whelan’s chipped pass found Armstrong inside the penalty area, and he delightfully brought the ball down on his chest before slotting past Baptiste.
United continued to pile the pressure on with Morgan Feeney meeting Cameron Harper’s deep cross and finding Jack Ellis, whose two attempts were blocked by the Stones’ defence.
Micah Obiero nearly made the most of slack play by the Blues, racing in on goal, but Gabe Breeze comfortably saved his effort.
Williams produced a wicked cross that just evaded Armstrong, with Linney meeting it at the back post, but his effort flashed across the goal.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-0 Wealdstone
Armstrong’s persistence paid off as he bundled through a couple of challenges and found Whelan, whose driven cross went to Linney, but his effort flew high over the bar.
Linney was to threaten again shortly after when Williams’ deep cross found him at the back post, where he forced a low save from Baptiste.
United doubled their lead in the 61st minute from the resulting corner with Hayden poking Linney’s set piece into the back of the net.
Neat interplay from Linney and Embleton saw the latter deliver a delightful floated cross, which Georgie Kelly met, but he directed the effort off target.
Nathan Tshikuna blasted a shot over the bar from the edge of the box as the Blues closed out the game to secure the three points.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 2-0 Wealdstone
Teams:
Carlisle United: Breeze, Harper, Feeney, Hayden, Ellis (Kelly 80), Whelan (Embleton 73), Gilliead, Macadam, Armstrong, Linney (Ajiboye 90)
Unused subs: Lewis, Murray, Hetherington, Mugabi
Wealdstone: Baptiste, Cook, Mussa (Turner 81), Woodman, Boldewijn, Obiero (Olomola 81), Hutchinson (Hassan 70), Tshikuna, McAvoy, Agyemang, Tiensia
Unused subs: Johnson, Kadji, Diarra, Nkrumah
Goals:
Carlisle United: (Armstrong 25) (Aaron Hayden 61)
Wealdstone: N/A
Yellow Cards:
Carlisle United: (Williams 37) (Linney 88)
Wealdstone: N/A
Red Cards:
Carlisle United: N/A
Wealdstone: N/A
Officials:
Referee - Garreth Rhodes
Assistant Referee 1 - Zharir Mustafa
Assistant Referee 2 - Adewunmi Soneye
Fourth Official - Oliver Noonan
Attendance:
6853 (108)
