By Match report: Town fall to defeat at promotion-chasing Carlisle
Grimsby Town suffered a defeat at high-flying Carlisle United in League Two this afternoon.
Two first-half goals from Alfie McCalmont and Jordan Gibson were enough to earn the hosts a 2-0 win at Brunton Park.
Paul Hurst made seven changes from the side that pulled off the incredible FA Cup victory over Southampton in midweek, with Andy Smith, Danny Amos, Otis Khan, Bryn Morris, Mikey O’Neill, George Lloyd and Tom Dickson-Peters all coming in from start.
The Mariners had the better of the opening exchanges and went close to opening the scoring through Khan, who sent a curling effort just wide of the far post.
The hosts had their first real chance of the game on 18 minutes after McCalmont looked to flick on a dangerous ball into the box, but he couldn’t quite get on the end of it and it went out for a goal kick.
Just past the midway point of the half Lloyd had an opportunity to put his side ahead with a half-volley from the edge of the area that Tomas Holy did well to get a hand to and keep it out.
After Town had the better of the opening half an hour, Max Crocombe was called into action for the first time when Callum Guy struck a long-range effort that the keeper pushed away from danger.
It wasn’t much longer before Carlisle did take the lead, though, as Alex Hunt was dispossessed in his own half and McCalmont punished the mistake with a low finish from outside of the area on 36 minutes.
The hosts then doubled their lead just before the break after the referee played on despite a head injury to Hunt, with Gibson cutting inside and drilling his effort past Crocombe to put his side firmly in control of proceedings.
They almost grabbed a third just after half-time when Hunt lost possession before Omari Patrick hit a shot just wide of the post.
Following some increased Carlisle pressure just past the hour mark, McCalmont almost had his second of the afternoon, but his volley went sailing over the bar.
Substitute Josh Emmanuel, who replaced Dickson-Peters at half-time, sent in a ball to Lloyd and he was unfortunate to see his header come crashing back of the post in what would’ve given Town a route back into the game.
Gibson went close to notching his second of the afternoon late on, but Crocombe did well to hold onto his effort.
There were no further chances before the end of the game, as Carlisle managed the remaining minutes well to seal a victory that strengthens their promotion challenge and leaves the Mariners 17th in the League Two table.
