Ardley-Ball

Carlisle United 1-3 Woking (National League)

It's so tight at the top, should third place Carlisle get just a draw tonight they'll go back to the summit of the National League table ahead of a cluster of promotion wannabes.

Mark Hughes side are unbeaten in nine in the league but did get dumped out of the FA Cup losing 4-1 at Blackpool on Sunday. Woking themselves are on a fine run under Neal Ardley, unbeaten in nine in all competitions, they last suffered league defeat in September.

I watched them do a job on Tamworth recently where I was mightily impressed with the way they played. Having watched Carlisle win a couple of games less so impressively this season, I know they'll have to be on it to take all three points against a very solid and structured side from Surrey.

Woking to Carlisle is 317 miles, which makes my short 200 mile journey from Nottingham seem like a nip to the shops tonight. I was supposed to be waking up in Bridlington which I thought would have saved me some travel time but I switched my Tuesday night game to Quorn after Scarborough's match verses Hereford at Queensgate was called off, in theory it would have saved me 50 miles of fuel but would have cost £50 on a hotel (seaside accommodation in Brid is cheap this time of the year) so I probably didn't do too bad out of it, especially as last night's game in Leicestershire was a cracker (you can read about it here).

It's a 4 hour drive, so I'm out early afternoon up the M1, M18, A1, A66 at Scotch Corner to Penrith, beautiful views, I'm listening in to the TalkSport Darts Championship on the radio, which has me fist pump the steering wheel and laugh out loud when Andy Goldstein gets knocked out by Gabby Agbonlahor.

Anyone who listens to Drive Time on TalkSport will know that both Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent are avid daily darts players, neither are any good and fail to reach the final which is won by Dean Saunders for a third consecutive year.

By 5pm, I'm at Southwaite Services on the M6 eating a KFC, before picking up the last leg and those final few miles towards Brunton Park in Carlisle.

The Venue

One thing I notice around here, the Warwick Road always seems busy, as I turn into Walkmill Crescent and get out of the heavy evening traffic before pulling over next to a Brewers Fayre pub. I parked here last time and it's a five minute walk to the stadium but is an asshole to get out post match.

Dark skies and bright headlights as I walk over the River Petteril where I see a sign on a bridge for matchday parking just £5 tonight. I'm down the terraced road, floodlights on in the distance, I'm looking through the windows of the houses that front on to the street, they look warm and cosy all lit up with their Christmas decorations.

I've time to nip in to the club shop which I do. Some cute baby kits and second hand retro shirts on show for a bargain £20. A few bobble hats and scarves, a really warm looking bench coat which I like the look of, but nothing for me in here, my days of club branding long gone.

One thing great about this place is the clubs fanzone which is open from 5:30 for midweek matches, it has a huge giant massive screen outside showing the early Champions League kick off, this puts many football league clubs facilities to shame, I'm watching Villarreal v Copenhagen with around twenty others as the Woking bus arrives. There's various catering trucks and a long line queuing for award winning fish and chips, it all looks great but I'm recently fed so I nip to the ticket collections window and grab my lanyard for the press seats.

Up the stairs in the Paddock the view is brilliant, the row of press seats are front row, second tier, central, you're elevated but set back where everything looks vast and wide in front, big pitch down below, big stand opposite, the Warwick Road end (roofed) to my right lit in blue, the Petteril End (open) to my left. That stand has exactly 34 Woking fans gathered high up in the cold all standing along one row.

The Game

We've been treated to a local dance academy doing some cheerleading prior to kick off, I've written down the formations, Carlisle 4231 with two holding midfielders and a quartet of attacking quality that reads Luamba, Conn-Clarke, Linney and Georgie Kelly. Woking are 532 with Olly Sanderson and Josh Kelly up front (no relation to George).

It's a bloody good start for the home side who immediately attack their visitors goal and crack a post through Conn-Clarke within a minute.

They look to have a point to prove after a disappointing cup exit on Sunday but Woking slowly come into matters, Gabriel Breeze tested by Sanderson on 20 as the contest begins to even out.

Perhaps Woking are getting complacent? Suddenly Junior Luamba who's been hobbling around is slipped through on the right by Williams, he takes a touch and rockets a shot home which rises into the net and gives Carlisle the lead, out of nothing? I wouldn't say the hosts have been knocking but you wonder will that goal kick start more one way traffic? The last time I was here Luamba was superb, like my postman during the Xmas run up, he's delivered again.

The Score

Luamba can't even celebrate his goal properly, he's probably strained his hamstring further following his unexpected rocket and instantly receives treatment before trudging off directly down the tunnel to a standing ovation where he's subbed for David Ajiboye, a like-for-like replacement who assisted Carlisle's goal in defeat at the weekend.

Despite having the lead Carlisle don't really look at it tonight. A lot of their football is slow, predictable, they pass back and sideways as they find Woking's five man defence hard to break down, this leads to a few grumbles and moans in the crowd, 'gerrit forward' I hear a number of times from those in the wooden seats behind me.

I don't know if it's a northern thing, but I've had this at Hartlepool, when things aren't going well the fans become irate, inpatient, it must translate to them down on the pitch, by now Woking have their confidence back, they have grown into the game, their three centre halves Okoli, Odusina and Tunji Akinola dealing with everything that comes their way, Timi Akinola in midfield is brilliant, fire in his belly he anticipates quickly and is quick footed enough to get away when he nicks the ball, Beautyman and Andrews are solid working with him, the latter has launched a few long throw-ins into the box, before curling home a beauty left footed from well outside the area.

It's a stunner which has even a few in the home end applauding, but it's mostly boos from the 5,000 strong Carlisle faithful who aren't happy with how the side have played. It's about to get even worse.

The board has gone up for added time in the first half, Woking have a corner, it's partially cleared but the pressure is still on, the big boys from the back have stayed forward, Drewe who's been impressive crosses low from the right, it's hooked by Hayden only to Tunji Akinola who has a couple of swings before slicing home to a chorus of more boos, more anger in the Carlisle crowd drowns the small army of Woking followers who are celebrating away. The wooden clatter of seats heard as folk head for half time a little earlier than schedule.

It's a sucker blow for Carlisle who have probably deserved to be behind, you can tell they have the quality but Woking have the character, they have come here with a gameplan, Neal Ardley is shrewd, because he knows how to mix it with the best and his side have been prepared all night for the best of what Carlisle have to offer.

The second half is one way traffic but it's nothing Woking can't fend off, Carlisle have a lot of the ball, but do little with it, they are slow, lacking ideas, Chris Conn-Clarke is their best player, when he receives the ball he looks up to get it forward, but there's a lack of option and character in their play, perhaps being humbled against Blackpool has shot some confidence?

By now, every time centre half Morgan Feeney gets it, looks up, and see's nothing but aimless balls forward, the boos and discontent continue to louden, Ajiboye is having a beast after coming on for Luamba, 'get him off' is one cry, 'get em all off' is another.

Subs do arrive, but perhaps to the relief of Woking, Conn-Clarke the only player I think can unlock the opposition door, is dragged, not many are too unhappy to see him go, then Ajiboye, the sub, is subbed, Georgie Kelly who's been awful tonight, somehow survives ninety.

Carlisle have one last push as minute ticks beyond 89, a cross is centred in and Will Jaaskelainen who's been punching everything all night (just like his dad used to) has finally caught a ball. "Send him" I shout as the keeper spots Aidan O'Brien on half way, the beauty of this new 8 second rule is that goalkeepers now look to play quickly, this gives an extra attacking dimension which Carlisle aren't ready for, a big ball pumped forward is perfect for O'Brien in his path, he has two defenders around him but both are useless as O'Brien runs through, he slides it past the goalkeeper and seals an incredible three points on the road, highly unexpected? Not if you believe in this Woking winning machine?

The Stars

I love the three amigos at the centre of Woking's defence, all strong physically and enjoying the art of defending just like I used to when playing Sunday football back in the day, Chinwike Okoli is the youngest and tallest of the three, just 22 at 1.90m in height, he signed from Millwall at the start of the season and is a man mountain central defender. Tunji Akinoli and Timi Odusina offering that bit of experience beside him, they all seem to cover each other quite naturally.

I like the wing backs, more defensive minded like traditional full backs than wingers, both gritty with good engines, Aaron Drewe doing particularly well up against Regan Linney, I thought offensively he was also very good, whilst Caleb Richards was solid, as he always is when I watch him play.

In midfield Tim Akinola put in a real honest performance, he's that snappy styled niggler with an engine, he can get around the pitch and has good quality with it, Jamie Andrews was steady in ticking things over, taking his goal superbly, Harry Beautyman worked hard for the team.

In attack, they also have real threat, Olly Sanderson is a young lad on loan from Fulham, he reminds me a bit of Patrick Bamford, elegant but physically decent for his age (still just 21), whilst Josh Kelly puts in a proper shift, he's on loan from AFC Wimbledon.

Not the night for Carlisle, goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze kicked poorly, neither full back played their best game, Josh Williams often too high and not showing for the ball enough, I felt for Morgan Feeney who didn't have a lot on in front of him, Aaron Hayden besides at centre half was not his usual self, Alex Gilliead and Harvey McAdam not bad in midfield, but not particularly good, neither of the forward four representing themselves to the best of their ability.

The Verdict

Carlisle need to seriously improve if they are to be serious about promotion. Still third, they are level on points with leaders Rochdale, who now have three games in hand, Forest Green are second, and they are no mugs, York City are only a point behind them in fourth, and in fifth place, Boreham Wood are still arguably the best team I have watched in the National League this season.

The best 'team' of the moment though, well Woking will take some beating? Who's to say a few injuries might hamper their all important starting eleven as the games come thick and fast, but as an eleven I think I would back them against most, tactically sound, defensively resilient, they can do a job against anyone in the division.

Neal Ardley knows this league, he knows what it takes to get a team into the playoffs, and although Woking right now are ninth, they are just four points from the playoff places, unbeaten in ten, it feels like they are on the up.

The Teams

Carlisle United: Gabriel Breeze, Cameron Harper, Morgan Feeney, Aaron Hayden, Georgie Kelly, Regan Linney, Junior Luamba (David Ajiboye 27 (Stephen Wearne 79)), Alex Gilliead (Luke Armstrong 69), Josh Williams, Harvey McAdam, Chris Conn-Clarke (Jordan Jones 79).

Woking: Will Jaaskelainen, Aaron Drewe, Tunji Akinola, Chin Okoli, Timi Odusina (Jack Turner 90), Caleb Richards, Timi Akinola, Jamie Andrews, Harry Beautyman (Aidan O'Brien 79), Josh Kelly, Olly Sanderson (Ashley Boatswain 49).

7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 10th December 2025, Brunton Park, Carlisle (att 5,264).