United were in Cleethorpes on Tuesday looking to protect their three-game unbeaten start to the league season.
Kristian Dennis was seeking to equal a record of scoring in each of the first five games for the club - set by Alan Ashman back in the 1950s - with the league's returning new boys fresh from a dramatic weekend win.
There was one change from Saturday's home draw with Swindon, with Owen Moxon missing through injury. Jamie Devitt was called into the midfield area for his first start of the term.
A foul on Amos by Back brought the first chance of the night and Glennon from the left flank was accurate with the set piece. Taylor nodded it down and Kiernan swiped wide when it came his way.
United won a corner when a huge kick from Holy was volleyed by Armer as it stuck in the standing water. It came to Dennis, and he rolled it out for Gibson to strike. That took a deflection and spun wide. The near post corner delivery was clipped into the side netting by Dennis.
There was real concern as puddles started to form across larger areas of the playing surface, but Kiernan ignored that when he got his head down with the ball at his feet. He stepped inside but his effort was charged down.
The clearance forward was perfect for Dennis to chase and his touch, as it fell out of the sky, took him towards the area. He had Gibson in space beside him, but the attacking midfielder was disappointed when his shot arrowed at Crocombe.
Gibson used Back as an outlet in the next attack, and his early cross was diverted for a corner. Devitt's inswinger was flicked deftly at the near post and helped on by Waterfall.
There was a heart in the mouth moment when a swipe from Mellish spooned off the top of his boot as the ball kicked up awkwardly. It climbed then dropped wickedly and Holy was relieved to see it fall onto the roof of his net.
The resulting corner found Kiernan unmarked, and Holy had to go full length to gather it into his hands as the header almost apologetically bounced off the greasy surface.
Keeper Tomas Holy saved from Holohan as he drove low from the edge of the area ... and it was at this point that referee Simon Mather showed his first real bit of concern about the safety of the pitch, with 25 minutes on the clock.
The rain continued to stream down from the heavens as the ground staff battled to clear the emerging lakes, with the intention to restart the action should conditions allow.
Minute 30 kicked in, and the players kicked off, with fingers crossed that the game would be completed.
Sadly, it was farcical, with the ball constantly holding up and with whopping great sprays of water accompanying every step.
On 34 minutes the captain's were called in and Mr Mather did the only thing he could do, and that was to take the players into the dressing rooms and call the game off.
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Goals
Grimsby Town -
Carlisle United -
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Bookings
Grimsby Town - Mellish (16)
Carlisle United -
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Teams
Grimsby Town - Crocombe, Glennon, Smith, Waterfall (c), Efete, Holohan, Amos, Green, Tayor, Morris, Kiernan. Subs - Battersby (gk), Pearson, Wearne, Pepple, Maguire-Drew, Clifton, Cropper.
Carlisle United - Holy, Ellis, Whelan (c), Mellish, Back, Devitt, Guy, Gibson, Armer, Patrick, Dennis. Subs - Kelly (gk), Huntington, Hilton, Bollado, Harris, Carr, Stretton.
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Match officials
Referee - Simon Mather
Assistant Referee 1 - Richard Wigglesworth
Assistant Referee 2 - Alex Gray
Fourth Official - Daniel Middleton
Observer - Mark Brown
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Attendance -