The officials for the weekend home game have been confirmed.
Referee - Ben Toner
Assistant Referee 1 - Chris Isherwood
Assistant Referee 2 - Richard Woodward
Fourth Official - Ivan Stankovic
Observer - Muhammed Matadar
Our referee for this game is Mr Ben Toner. He has taken charge of two games so far this season showing 11 yellow cards and no reds.
A regular with us over the years, he was here as Mansfield Town ran riot with all four goals of the game scored by them before the break in February 2023. John-Kymani Gordon, Jayden Harris and Joe Garner were booked on what was a tough night for the Blues.
He took charge of our 2-1 defeat against Manchester United U21s in the Papa Johns Trophy in August 2022. Jamie Devitt scored our consolation and Devitt was also booked, as was Ryan Edmondson.
We saw him at Scunthorpe on New Year's Day in 2022 when a goal from Rod McDonald was enough to secure the away win. Brennan Dickenson was the only Carlisle name taken.
He was at Brunton Park for the October 2020 visit of Barrow - a historic first league meeting between the clubs after a 56-year gap - and what an eventful day it turned out to be! Jon Mellish got the only goal of the game, but with seven yellows and a red card (Aaron Hayden) there was plenty for him to do. Mellish, Nick Anderton and Callum Guy all had their names taken.
He was with us for the festive visit to Walsall in December 2019. All of the goals came in the second half, with Nathan Thomas and Harry McKirdy [with an injury time winner] doing the real damage as the Blues won 2-1. James Clarke was sent off for the Saddlers and Aaron Hayden went in the book for us.
He was our main match official at the start of the 2019/20 campaign for our Carabao Cup meeting with Barnsley at Oakwell. Goals from Harry McKirdy, Jack Bridge [pen] and Nathan Thomas sealed a comfortable victory and no Carlisle names were taken on the night.
Our first meeting with him during the 2018/19 season was for the 2-1 victory over Port Vale at Brunton Park in August. A Danny Grainger penalty and a Tom Parkes header were enough to see the Blues earn the three points with no cards shown
The Checkatrade Trophy fixture at the Stadium of Light was the second United game he oversaw that term, with the Black Cats running out as 3-1 winners. Ashley Nadesan got the United goal and, once again, the cards stayed in his pocket.
New Year's Day 2019 took us to Morecambe, Jamie Devitt and Jack Sowerby got the goals, and Kelvin Etuhu and Anthony Gerrard had their names recorded in the book.
And last, but not least, was our 2-1 home victory over Swindon in March 2019. Hallam Hope and Callum O'Hare scored our goals with Gary Liddle going in the book for a late challenge.