Latest National League opponent for Carlisle United confirmed
Carlisle United will face FC Halifax Town in the league for the first time after the Yorkshire club's defeat in the play-offs.
The Shaymen lost 4-0 at Oldham Athletic in the National League eliminator on Wednesday night.
The end of Halifax's promotion hopes confirms their place in the fifth tier in 2025/26.
Carlisle have not faced Halifax in league football since the 2004/05 season, but that was against the previous incarnation of Halifax Town.
FC Halifax formed in 2008 after Town went into administration. After working their way up the non-league pyramid, they have spent the last eight seasons in the fifth tier. United have faced them in pre-season friendlies over the years, in 2017 and 2021.
Ex-Blues striker Joe Garner got Oldham's opening goal in the eliminator as the Latics progressed to a play-off semi-final at York City next Tuesday.
Oldham Athletic ahead! ⚽️ Joe Garner gives the Latics lift-off! @OfficialOAFC | #TheVanarama pic.twitter.com/a2zLVcHi6U
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 14, 2025
The other eliminator sees Rochdale host Southend United tonight with the winners away to Forest Green Rovers in the other semi.
In the EFL, meanwhile, there was play-off agony for former Carlisle trio Owen Moxon, Jack Diamond and Oliver Norwood with Stockport County.
The Hatters lost their League One play-off semi-final second leg to Leyton Orient on penalties.
After a 2-2 first leg draw, Stockport - with Carlisle-born Moxon and former Blues loanee Norwood in their XI, and Diamond a substitute - drew 1-1 at Edgeley Park and the sides could not be separated in extra-time.
There'll be no third straight promotion for Owen Moxon (Image: PA)
Orient then had the better of the shoot-out, winning 4-1. Among those to fail from the spot for the Hatters was former United loan man Diamond, as well as Ryan Rydel, who had previously suffered penalty heartbreak when his kick was saved by Carlisle's Tomas Holy in 2023's League Two play-off final.
The outcome cost Moxon the chance of three consecutive promotions, following his previous successes with Carlisle and Portsmouth in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Orient will face either Wycombe Wanderers or Charlton Athletic in the final, with those sides set to meet at The Valley tonight after a 0-0 first-leg draw. Ex-Blues defender Macaulay Gillesphey is in the Charlton ranks.
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