MATCH REPORT: Grimsby

United were back at home as they hosted Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon.

And there was just one change to the starting eleven from last Saturday's demolition of Crawley to face the midweek FA Cup heroes, with Jordan Gibson in for Joel Senior, who had suffered with a bug through the latter stages of the week.

Feeney made sure he got in the way of a shot from distance from Hunt as Grimsby built a patient early attack, and the same defender put himself in the way as Dickson-Peters overlapped to deliver. Holy was safe from the corner.

Strength from Garner won the Blues a corner on 10 minutes, and there was a shout for a penalty as Feeney was wrestled to the floor by Maher. The referee quickly signalled for a goal kick.

Amos found space to cross twice at the other end, but Holy once again brought things to an end when he came off his line to claim it.

It was a good start from the visitors and a neat flick from Lloyd put Khan in an advanced position. The nippy wide man dropped a shoulder to step inside and his dipping, curling shot edged just past the upright.

A good move down the left flank brought a whipped cross from Armer, with McCalmont the most advanced for the hosts. He tried to guide it at the nets but it skimmed his boot and skipped through. Gibson recovered it, but his cross was charged down.

Keeper Tomas Holy showed excellent reactions when a seemingly hopeful punt forward from Maher was plucked out of the sky expertly by Lloyd. He produced a snapshot from nowhere, but the stopper dived smartly to scoop it away with his hand.

Gibson got forward just past the half hour when he pulled wide to take a pass. His delivery was dangerous, but it was intercepted by Hunt. Guy pounced to control, and Crocombe had to gather his fizzed volley at the second attempt.

It was all about the pressing as Carlisle took the lead on 36 minutes with Patrick, Garner and McCalmont hunting as a pack. The latter suddenly had a clean sight of the target and he left Crocombe with no chance as he bent a beauty past the dive.

United came again as they turned possession over from the restart. Gibson was calm when he asked  for it, and he looked inside for support. Garner was there, and he was disappointed to see his deflected shot spin into Crocombe's hands.

Accuracy from Moxon from a set piece gave Feeney something to jump for, and his downward header was met by Mellish, who had arrived late. Maher had luck rather than judgement to thank for his block.

Home tails were up and McCalmont fed Gibson with another measured pass just before the break. He floated it to Garner, and he looked to cushion it for McCalmont to strike. Visiting skipper Niall Maher did enough to close it off.

The second goal, on 44 minutes, was a football joy to watch as Garner showed first in midfield to send Moxon into space. Gibson had isolated his marker, and he was ruthless as he jinked his way into the box. Crocombe was once again stranded as an arrow of a shot bulged the side netting.

The Cumbrians had the first chance of the second period when Mellish surged forward from deep inside his own half. Patrick was with him, and he carried it onwards and into the area. He went for it with a shot across the face of the target on his weaker foot and it bounced past the far stick.

Gibson was excellent as he battled his way through two challenges, and Moxon stood over the free kick that was awarded after the wing-back was felled on the angle of the box. Another free kick was given after Patrick kept the delivery alive only to be clipped.

Trickery from Garner on the halfway live saw him control then lob his pass to Patrick. Pace took the forward into the box, and he looked for a penalty as his arm was pulled. A second loud claim was ignored when Armer was manhandled when the corner came in.

More good work from Garner led to a lofted cross that had Efete on the stretch. Armer was at a tight angle so he crunched it back into the mix. Hunt got there first before Garner could make it his.

There was string pressure from the Blues on 68 minutes as Moxon did well to keep the ball in. Not only that, he managed to get it to Gibson, who duly beat his marker with a swivel of the hips. Garner was up, Armer connected, and McCalmont was frustrated when he popped his follow up into the Warwick. 

Grimsby were carved to pieces again when Garner showed intelligence to put Patrick free and clear. He strode on then pulled it back but Moxon was on the stretch as he tried to find his first Brunton Park goal. He was left beating the floor as it rose high.

The Mariners almost gave themselves a lifeline moments later when Emmanuel found Lloyd with a peach of a cross. Holy was beaten, but it struck the woodwork and the keeper gathered it into his chest.

Gibson had a rasper bocked and Dennis pulled one wide as the clock ticked down, and a huge kick forward brought as good a first toch as you will ever see when Dennis killed it on his toe. Gibson asked for it, and his effort was top corner bound until Crocombe got in the way.

United kept things tght at the back, and they claimed their third win on the bounce thanks to another very professional performance.

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Match Sponsor - Vegware
Associate Sponsor - Classique Kitchens
Match Ball Sponsor - Jack Oddie

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Goals

Carlisle United - McCalmont (36), Gibson (44)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Huntington (61)

Grimsby Town - O'Neill (34), Khan (50)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Holy, Feeney (c), Huntington (Whelan 71), Mellish, Gibson, Moxon, Guy, McCalmont (Senior 81), Armer, Patrick (Dennis 81), Garner (Gordon 81). Subs - Kelly, Harris, Robinson.

Grimsby Town - Crocombe, Efete, Lloyd, Khan (Taylor 65), Hunt (Khouri 65), Morris (Wearne 86), O'Neill (Clifton 85), Dickson-Peters (Emmanuel 46), Amos, Smith, Maher. Subs - Pearson, Scannell.

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Match officials

Referee - Marc Edwards
Assistant Referee 1 - Matthew Sowerby
Assistant Referee 2 - Richard Woodward
Fourth Official - Graeme Fyvie
Observer - Eddie Ilderton

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Attendance - 6,561 (428)

Read Time: 6 mins