United were at Blundell Park on Saturday afternoon as they went up against Grimsby Town in their latest League Two fixture.
United made just one change as Kelvin Etuhu came in to replace the injured Nicky Adams on the left wing.
And they put in a near-perfect away display to take the points courtesy of a first goal for the club for experienced defender Clint Hill.
Hesitant defending from Summerfield gave United a corner from nothing early in the game but that was easily cleared as the cross from Grainger evaded Etuhu.
Lambe was then fouled on the edge of the box as he tried to skip through, with Carlisle looking very bright, and McKeown had to get down smartly as Jones went for the near post from the resulting free kick.
Carlisle came again with lovely control from Lambe which allowed him to feed Grainger on the overlap. His delivery whipped across the face of the target but it was just in front of Bennett as he slid in to try to get the touch.
Good work from Jaiyesimi at the other end took him past his man and into the area. He spotted Vernon in space but Bonham did well to make the save as he went full length on the dive. Jaiyesimi was onto the loose ball but the flag was up for offside as he hit the bar.
A lobbed pass into the Carlisle box caused problems as a half clearance from Brown fell to Dembele. Bonham blocked a fierce shot at close range and Liddle did the same as Hooper tried a first-time toe poke through a ruck of bodies.
The Cumbrians created another good chance when Joyce put Brown into space on the right wing. His cross found Bennett but he couldn't guide his header at the target and the moment was gone.
A blocked long range shot from Brown left United light at the back, with the Blues committed forward, and the ricochet left Hooper with acres of space to run in to. He got his head down and made his way forward but his measured curler was always heading wide of the upright.
A drop of the shoulder from Lambe took him away from his man in a dangerous area and McKeown had to watch closely as it took a wicked deflection and dipped towards the roof of his net.
There were chances at both ends in what was a very open game and Summerfield was next to go close when he took a pass from Mills in his stride. His 30-yarder had venom but it whipped into the stands.
The same player caused more of a test for Bonham with a 25-yard free kick which beat the wall and came low and straight through the crowd. The big stopper saw it late but he did well to get low and smother it.
Bonham was even better moments later when he somehow got across to claw a towering goal bound header from Collins from beneath his bar. And the action switched quickly to the other end as Bennett sudenly found himself eight yards out with just McKeown to beat. He tried to side foot it in but the keeper spread himself to make the save.
Carlisle broke through once again in time added on for the half with a ball over the top which Lambe controlled. It was a difficult chance but he was disappointed when he sent it into the side netting.
Grimsby fashioned the first opening after the break when Davies got wide to deliver. Hooper angled his run to meet it but his volley went well wide.
Jaiyesimi then bullied his way through two challenges to put himself into a shooting position but he couldn't quite shape his punt and it flew over the home stand roof.
It was a good spell for the hosts but they were almost undone when Jones and Brown wound their way down the right wing. A clipped cross brought a header from Hope which had to be tipped over the bar.
United came again as they went short for the next set piece and another Jones delivery found Hill on the jump. The keeper scrambled across and was relieved to see it drop wide of the post.
Another half chance came when Etuhu got on the end of a huge free kick. His volley was nodded back across goal by Devitt but McKeown was there once again to claim it.
Carlisle were excellent on the break when Lambe surged from deep inside his own half to turn defence into attack. A lovely cross was guided behind, but the Blues stayed forward when the clearance fell to Joyce. He played it wide, and the cross from Liddle was perfect for Clint Hill to guide into the bottom corner as he found himself completely unmarked.
McKeown had more work to do as Grainger whisked a free kick at his near post, but he did just enough to turn it onto the woodwork and Davies helped it on its way.
Bonham saved from Mills late in the day as Grimsby attacked sporadically, and Mills miscued a volley from an excellent Davies pass as the Mariners tried to get themselves going.
But Carlisle closed ranks and saw the game through to a very successful conclusion.
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Goals
Carlisle United - Hill (70)
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Teams
Grimsby Town - McKeown, Mills, Clarke, Davies, Jaiyesimi (J Osborne 80), Collins, Rose, Summerfield, Vernon (Matt 74), Hooper (S Jones 65), Dembele. Subs - Killip, Kelly, K Osborne, Cardwell.
Carlisle United - Bonham, Brown, Liddle, Hill, Grainger, Lambe, Joyce, M Jones, Etuhu (S Miller 90), Hope (Parkes 87), Bennett (Devitt 57). Subs - George, T Miller, Cosgrove, O'Sullivan.
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Referee - Mr Rob Lewis
Attendance - 3,753 (218 away fans)
