United succumbed to a first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 against Sutton United at the VBS Community Stadium.
Edon Pruti and David Ogbonna’s second-half goals for the U’s proved decisive despite Georgie Kelly’s injury-time strike.
Mark Hughes made one change from the 5-0 win against Braintree Town on Monday, with Harvey Macadam coming in for Junior Luamba.
Regan Linney looked to get the Blues off to a strong start, firing two efforts over the bar while Bevis Mugabi also had a shot from distance denied by Jack Sims.
The Blues had the ball in the net in the 36th minute through Luke Armstrong, but the referee, Dareen Drysdale, deemed there to have been a foul in the build-up.
Linney was next to come close, receiving the ball from Armstrong in the host’s penalty area, but Sims was out quickly to block the shot.
Former Blues forward Ashley Nadesan should have put Steve Morrison’s side ahead in the 44th minute, but he could only fire wide with the goal at his mercy.
Another former Carlisle player for the U’s, Jayden Harris, tested Gabe Breeze on the stroke of half-time as the South London outfit began to grow in confidence.
HALF-TIME: Sutton United 0-0 Carlisle United
The hosts took the lead in the 49th minute when Pruti rose highest to bullet a header past Breeze.
Carlisle attempted to respond, with Macadam seeing his effort drift wide before Kelly came inches away from getting on the end of Linney’s teasing cross.
David Ogbonna made the most of some miscommunication in the Blues' defence and doubled his side's lead in the 82nd minute, lifting the ball over Breeze to score.
Terell Thomas came close to reducing the deficit, having a header cleared off the line before Stephen Wearne lashed a shot wide.
Kelly halved the hosts’ lead in the 95th minute, reacting quickest to a scramble in the box after an initial corner to stab the ball past Sims, but the Blues failed to find an equalizer despite Mugabi coming close in the dying seconds.
FULL-TIME: Sutton United 2-1 Carlisle United
Teams:
Sutton United: Sims, Eccleston, Boutin, Taylor, Phipps, Pruti, Wadham (Odelusi 63), Dabre (Simper 63), Njoku (Ogbonna 78), Nadesan, Harris.
Not used: Aziaya, White, Jones, Crichlow
Carlisle United: Breeze, Davies, Harper, Thomas, Mugabi, Macadam (Grant 68), Wearne, Whelan (Kelly 55), Armstrong (Ajiboye 69), Linney, Ellis
Not used: Lewis, Hayden, Murray, Williams
Goals:
Sutton United – (Pruti 49) (Ogbonna 82)
Carlisle United – (Kelly 90+5)
Yellow cards:
Sutton United - N/A
Carlisle United – (Wearne 24)
Red cards:
Sutton United - N/A
Carlisle United - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Darren Drysdale
Assistant Referee 1 - Richard Carter
Assistant Referee 2 - Matthew Malton
Fourth Official - James Hurst
Attendance:
2,507 (599 away)
