Reuniting with a familiar foe, the team we defeated in the play-off semi-final last season, Luke Garrard’s side’s latest test comes with the visit of Carlisle United.
A first season in non-league since 2005, the Cumbrians were hopeful of an immediate return to the Football League last term with Mark Hughes spearheading a third-placed finish with 95 points, their highest tally in history. However, they were unable to secure promotion via the play-offs after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to the Wood.
A side boasting plenty of quality all over the pitch, Regan Linney will play a pivotal role if Carlisle are to compete in the upper echelons of the division this term.
Having started his career in the youth ranks at Bamber Bridge, where he broke into the first-team at 17, a move to FC United of Manchester ahead of the 2019/20 campaign proved the catalyst for his career.
He shone at Broadhurst Park with 44 goals in 93 appearances, securing a move to full-time football with Altrincham in February 2023 for an undisclosed fee.
Linney quickly adapted to his new surroundings by notching 14 league goals as Alty finished fourth, losing to Bromley in the play-off semi-final. The following campaign saw him take his game to another level with 25 goals in all competitions as he was included in the National League Team of the Season, even more impressive given Altrincham’s 16th-placed finish.
This form in an underperforming side unsurprisingly caught its admirers, but he headed to fellow National League outfit Carlisle last summer. Linney continued his goal-scoring exploits in Cumbria, netting on 19 occasions as the division’s fifth top-scorer last season.
Arriving from Gateshead in the summer, Rob Elliot is the man tasked with guiding Carlisle back into League Two after Hughes’ departure.
After a successful playing career where he turned out for the likes of Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United in between the sticks, the former Republic of Ireland international moved into his first managerial post with Gateshead in 2023.
He had immediate success at the Gateshead International Stadium as he guided them to sixth place, but they weren’t allowed to compete in the play-offs as they didn’t fit the entry criteria for membership of the EFL.
Having also lifted the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time in their history that season, Elliot sought pastures new in October 2024 with Crawley Town. However, he only remained in West Sussex for five months before returning to Gateshead at the start of this year.
They looked down and out upon his arrival, sitting 11 points from safety midway through February, but he masterminded a remarkable mid-season turnaround, and they secured safety with two games to spare.
Our first clash with Carlisle came in our second match of last season, where the spoils were shared in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Georgie Kelly cancelled out Luke Norris’ opener before Linney put the hosts ahead with 53 minutes on the clock. The 29-year-old extended the lead to two, but late strikes from Norris and Charlie O’Connell secured our first point of the season.
The reverse league meeting saw the Wood run out 2-0 victors, thanks to goals from Abdul Abdulmalik and Zak Brunt, before we faced the Cumbrians in the play-off semi-final.
Abdulmalik broke the deadlock with a sublime strike from distance before Morgan Feeney drew level just before the break. A closely-fought second period saw the game go to extra-time, and following Junior Luamba’s dismissal, Brunt proved to be the hero with his dinked finish minutes into the second-half of extra-time.
The game kicks off at 17:30 and will operate under full segregation.
Adult – £20.00
OAP – £18.00
Under 20 – £14.00
Under 16 – £10.00
Under 14* – £6.00
Under 5* – £2.00
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
*Must be accompanied by a paying adult or OAP.
Access to the Stadium is available via turnstiles 1 to 6 at the north-east of the Stadium for home supporters and via turnstiles 9 and 10 at the south of the Stadium for visiting Boston United supporters. Turnstiles 7 and 8 will not be in operation.
Turnstiles 3 to 6 at the north-east corner will open at 12:00 for access to The Glass House only. Turnstiles 1 and 2, as well as 9 and 10, will open one-and-a-half hours prior to kick-off at 16:00 when the Stadium opens.
The Glass House will open on match day at 12:00 and will be accessible via turnstiles 3 to 6, whilst the Fan Zone in the south-east corner of the Stadium will be in operation on match day for visiting Boston United supporters from 16:00 when the Stadium opens.
A variety of quality food options will also be available from our stadium catering partners, with outlets conveniently located adjacent to The Glass House and in the middle of the South Terrace.
Toilet facilities are situated throughout the Stadium and are easily accessible from all areas.
Written by Jack Patmore.
