Carlisle United 2-3 Worthing: Elliot's Blues beaten in opener

The National League new boys took advantage as United unravelled in the second half in front of an 8,394 crowd at Brunton Park.

Georgie Kelly had given Elliot's side a half-time lead but Adam Hinshelwood's side then hit back through Dom Hutchinson, Razzaq Coleman De-Graft and Ricky Aguiar.

Kelly stabbed home a late second for United but the hosts could not complete a comeback and it ended in a dispiriting start to the 2026/27 campaign under their new regime.

The result was greeted by boos from some fans as sections of the home support expressed their frustration to Elliot and the team.

Carlisle seemed to be in control at the halfway mark, Kelly's 42nd minute header having put them in front.

But Worthing grew into the game as the second half developed and a flagging United were too easily opened up as Hutchinson fired high past Archie Mair to equalise, and then Coleman De-Graft swept in a second after the Blues failed to clear a free-kick.

Aguiar then went through to slot home Worthing's third, meaning Kelly's 88th minute goal after a scramble was mere consolation.

Elliot's opening-day line-up saw Mair given the nod in goal, with Gabe Breeze on the bench upon his recent return from injury.

Elsewhere, there were competitive debuts for summer signings Miguel Azeez, Harvey Bunker, Leo Duru and Toby Mullarkey, all of whom were in the XI.

Also making the opening-day selection cut were Ryan Galvin, Callum Whelan, Regan Linney, Cameron Harper and David Ajiboye, the latter passed fit to play after a back injury.

Fit-again summer recruit Brad Nicholson made the bench but Kenton Richardson wasn't involved. Teenage pros Seb Mason and Jonah Lowes were in United's squad.

Worthing's opening-day XI included summer arrivals Hutchison, Aguiar, Jack Wadham, Jayden Moore and Cory Adjetey-Brew, while Jose Marquez and Remiero Moulton were on the bench after joining in the last 24 hours before the big kick-off.

The opening stages then saw Carlisle with the lion's share of the play without managing to find a way through.

Duru was an early outlet on the right, the new signing seeing an initial cross test Worthing.

A great chance then came Regan Linney's way in the ninth minute as Ajiboye cut the ball back from the left, but last season's top scorer blazed it over the bar first time.

Linney continued to look to examine the visitors but he screwed another chance wide from the edge of the box as Carlisle worked a decent opportunity.

Elliot's side continued to enjoy most of the possession as Worthing looked to contain the Blues, Callum Whelan, who captained United, next to pull a shot wide.

The 23rd minute then saw ref Scott Barrow signal a hydration break - the cue for loud boos to break out all around Brunton Park.

When things resumed, Linney almost set up Kelly at the near post, Whelan failing to convert the breaking ball, and later Linney tested Harrison Foulkes before the Worthing keeper held a powerful Ajiboye shot.

Azeez blasted a breaking ball into a visiting defender as Carlisle kept attacking - and then finally the breakthrough came.

The provider was Bunker as he ventured forward from defence to join the attack. After seeing one cross cleared, he received it again, and his well-flighted cross from the right found Kelly in space - and the striker headed clinically past Foulkes.

And it could have been two just moments later as United won the ball on the right and Kelly sent Linney tearing towards the box, but he rifled the shot against the right-hand post, Azeez volleying the rebound wide.

After the break, Carlisle went in search of a second, Azeez denied by Foulkes after a counter-attack involving Duru and Harper.

Kelly headed a Whelan corner wide at the near post before Ajiboye shot across goal and wide.

Worthing threatened just before the hour mark when a Joel Colbran delivery almost broke for Coleman De-Graft, but Mullarkey came in with a timely clearance.

Linney was then denied by Foulkes at the other end, before Worthing grew into their best spell of the game around the hour mark, finding spaces on the attack and Carter shooting over after Coleman De-Graft found him to the left of the Blues box.

And the Rebels made this spell of pressure count as they equalised midway through the second half, further exposing the Carlisle midfield and back line as Hutchinson eventually received the ball on the left and fired high and across Mair into the top corner.

Elliot responded by replacing Ajiboye with Stephen Wearne, and later Whelan set up Linney in the box, but he shot high over the bar from another good position.

A Harper free-kick forced Foulkes to tip over his bar, but Carlisle's failure to make the most of their pressure cost them when Worthing scored again.

After a free-kick from the right, United struggled to clear and Coleman De-Graft then turned and swept an attempt across Mair.

Elliot sent on Nicholson for his debut, along with Josh Williams, but soon afterwards Carlisle were sloppy on the edge of their box and, after an error from Wearne, Aguiar went through to slot home Worthing's third.

Late hope was then earned in response, when Kelly stabbed high into the net after a scramble in the Worthing area.

Linney then went close to an equaliser when his shot after Duru's pass deflected wide.

That was United's last chance, further late attempts coming to nothing and Worthing able to celebrate a successful start to life in the fifth tier - as Elliot's reign got off to a false start.

United: Mair, Mullarkey, Galvin, Bunker, Duru, Harper (Williams 85), Azeez, Whelan, Ajiboye (Wearne 68), Linney, Kelly. Not used: Breeze, Ellis, Mason, Lowes.

Goals: Kelly 42, 88.

Worthing: Foulkes, Colbran, Adjetey-Brew (Ransom 90), Cook, Moore, Wadham, Jenks (Packham 85), Coleman De-Graft (Godziemski 86), Aguiar, Hutchinson (Moulton 77), Carter (Marquez 77). Not used: Seymour, Makowski.

Goals: Hutchinson 67, Coleman De-Graft 82, Aguiar 86.

Booked: Adjetey-Brew, Hutchinson.

Ref: Scott Jackson.