Carlisle United Host Boreham Wood in Play-Off Semi-Final
Carlisle United host Boreham Wood in the Enterprise National League play-off semi-final on Sunday at Brunton Park. The winner moves one step closer to promotion, with a one-off tie deciding who keeps that push alive.
Boreham Wood’s scoring edge
Matt Rush arrives as Boreham Wood’s main threat. The striker has 26 goals in this season’s Enterprise National League campaign, and 16 of them came after he moved from Sutton United to Hertfordshire in late 2024.
That run has helped Boreham Wood string together results at the right time. They beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0 after extra time on Wednesday 29 April 2026, followed wins over Sutton United by 1-0 on Saturday 25 April 2026, Morecambe by 3-0 on Saturday 18 April 2026 and Hartlepool United by 3-0 on Saturday 11 April 2026. Their only listed setback in that stretch was a 4-1 loss to Solihull Moors on Monday 6 April 2026.
Brunton Park meeting points
The two clubs already know each other well. Carlisle and Boreham Wood drew 3-3 on Saturday 16 August 2025, then Boreham Wood won 2-0 at home on Sunday 21 December 2025. Those results leave Sunday’s semi-final with a clear edge: the recent meetings have been tight enough to punish mistakes, but not so open that either side can assume control early.
There is also a longer thread between them. Carlisle beat Boreham Wood 2-1 on Tuesday 19 November 2013 after a 0-0 draw on Saturday 9 November 2013, a reminder that this fixture has produced a range of outcomes across different seasons. The play-off setting now strips away the margin for error.
Promotion pressure at stake
Boreham Wood’s route to this point adds another layer. They finished fifth in the National League South last season and went up through the play-offs, so they have already handled a promotion run under knockout pressure. Carlisle now face a side that has taken that route before and arrives with Rush scoring at close to a goal-a-game pace across the campaign.
Supporters were told to get tickets for the Enterprise National League play-off semi-final at Brunton Park, and the demand reflects the stakes of a single-game tie. Carlisle have the home ground, but Boreham Wood bring the sharper recent scoring form into Sunday’s meeting.
