United got their Enterprise National League season off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win against Woking at The Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Second-half goals from Luke Armstrong and Ethan Robson gave the Blues a comfortable victory in Surrey in front of a packed away end.
New signing Harvey Macadam came in from the start to partner Callum Whelan in midfield, while Stephen Wearne returned to the bench despite not featuring in pre-season due to an ankle injury.
Regan Linney came close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute, curling an effort which looked destined for the top corner, but Craig Ross somehow managed to tip the ball over the bar in the Woking goal.
The Cardinals had the ball in the net on 19 minutes when Chin Okoli headed over Gabe Breeze, but the host’s defender was adjudged to be offside.
Armstrong responded by finding space on the left and striking towards goal, which Ross parried; David Ajiboye failed to get his follow-up goalwards.
Ross pulled off another superb stop in first-half stoppage time to deny Aaron Hayden’s header from Elliot Embleton’s corner.
Macadam thought he had got a debut goal when he headed in another delicious corner from Embleton, but referee Alan Young ruled there to be a foul as the cross came in.
HALF-TIME: Woking 0-0 Carlisle United
Armstrong broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, latching onto Jack Ellis’ through ball and firing into the bottom right corner for his first of the campaign.
United nearly had a second in the 61st minute with Ross making an incredible double save after a scramble in the host’s penalty area.
Wearne’s energy from the bench was causing the host’s problems, and he won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 80thminute.
Fellow substitute Robson stepped up and hit a wonderful effort, beating Ross to his right, doubling the Blues' advantage.
Georgie Kelly nearly had a third in the 89th minute, forcing Ross into yet another stop at his near post.
The Blues survived eight minutes of added time to secure the three points on the opening day.
FULL-TIME: Woking 0-2 Carlisle United
Teams:
Woking – Ross, Drewe, Okoli, Tunji Akinola, Richards, Timmy Akinola (Turner 75), Andrews, Ward, Beautyman, O’Brien (Osude 75), Sanderson (Effiong 75)
Subs – Norcott, Odusina, Hinds, Ashford
Carlisle United – Breeze, Ellis, Hayden, Thomas, Harper, Whelan, Macadam (Robson 71), Linney (Murray 88), Embleton (Wearne 76), Ajiboye (Davies 88), Armstrong (Kelly 71)
Subs – Lewis, Mugabi
Goals:
Woking – N/A
Carlisle United – (Armstrong 56) (Robson 80)
Yellow cards:
Woking – (Timmy Akinola 21) (Okoli 50) (Andrews 80)
Carlisle United – (Breeze 34) (74 Embleton
Red cards:
Woking - N/A
Carlisle United - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Alan Young
Assistant Referee 1 - Grzegorz Kornasiewicz
Assistant Referee 2 - Stuart Kane
Fourth Official - Joe Woolmer
Attendance – 3,962 (1,061 Away)
