The Blues were defeated on home soil despite a brace from club captain Charlie Wyke.
The Cods opened the scoring through Danny Mayor, before Ryan Coughlan extended their lead - both goals coming from a lapse of concentration in possession from the home side.
Charlie Wyke netted his first two in United colours following his return to Brunton Park, the first from the penalty spot and the second being a neat finish at the near post, before Mayor hammered home to confirm all three points for the away side.
On two minutes, Mark Helm had the first effort of the contest, lashing towards the far corner seeing his shot blocked by Sam Lavelle.
He became provider moments later, finding the on-running Ryan Graydon centrally, but the ball was ultimately claimed by Harry Lewis.
Danny Mayor opened the scoring on 11 minutes. The visitors won the ball back after a loose touch from Cameron Harper on the left and after drifting his way into United’s area, he slammed an effort home beyond Harry Lewis.
One minute later, the Blues almost responded instantly as Jon Mellish saw an effort crash against the post.
On 19 minutes, Ryan Coughlan doubled the Cods’ advantage with a top finish following an error in midfield between Dylan McGeouch and Harrison Biggins.
Midway through the first-half, Mackenzie Hunt looked to add a third as the visitors continued to dominate proceedings, but his shot sailed well over Lewis’ crossbar.
As we hit the 30-minute mark, the Blues started to grow in confidence, despite still being unable to find their first goal of the game.
Three minutes later, Graydon looked to double his tally and further extend Fleetwood’s lead, but his effort was turned behind for a corner by Sam Lavelle.
United then looked to catch their opponents on the break from the aforementioned set-piece, seeing Harrison Biggins drag a shot just wide of David Harrington’s goal.
On 41 minutes, referee Scott Tallis pointed to the spot after Jordan Jones was brought down by the Cods’ skipper Brendan Wiredu.
Wyke then opened his current Carlisle account from the spot, dispatching beyond an outstretched Harrington to get United back into the game.
HALF-TIME: United 1-2 Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood’s Hunt had the first effort of the second-half after receiving the ball on the edge of the United area, prior to lifting a shot over the hosts’ bar.
Wyke came close to grabbing his second soon after the restart as Biggins looked to find him inside the Cods’ box, forcing a defender to clear for a corner.
The Blues’ number 10 netted his second of the day on 51 minutes, rolling home at the near post following a tremendous pass from Dylan McGeouch.
Luke Armstrong - who replaced Dominic Sadi at half-time - came agonisingly close to adding our third after great build-up play down the left between Harper and Mellish, but he was unable to get the vital connection to divert the ball goalwards.
Against the run of play it was the visitors who scored the next goal of the game. The ball sat nicely for the scorer of the first Fleetwood goal, Mayor, who hammered home beyond Lewis to restore his side’s lead.
Substitute Josh Vela looked to restore parity for United on 72 minutes after unleashing from distance, but the Fleetwood shot-stopper was equal to it.
Elliott Bonds almost added a fourth for the visitors and would’ve done so if it wasn’t for a brilliant block from Sam Lavelle in the closing stages.
FULL-TIME: United 2-3 Fleetwood Town
Teams:
Carlisle United - Lewis, Davies, Harper, Lavelle, Hayden (89’ O’Donoghue), Wyke ©, Jones, Biggins (82’ Neal), McGeouch (67’ Vela), Mellish, Sadi (46’ Armstrong)
Unused subs - Breeze, Ellis, Barclay
Fleetwood Town - Harrington, Johnston, Wiredu ©, Graydon (61’ Harratt), Virtue (71’ Broom), Mayor, Bennett (71’ Bolton), Hunt (61’ Bonds), Helm (61’ Patterson), Holgate, Coughlan
Unused subs - Lynch, Lonergan
Goals:
Carlisle United - (42’, 52’ Wyke)
Fleetwood Town - (10’, 67’ Mayor), (19’ Coughlan)
Match officials:
Referee - Scott Tallis
Assistant Referee - Simon Clayton
Assistant Referee - Lewis Raper
Fourth Official - Matt Archibald
Attendance:
7,090 (332 away)
