Carlisle United rounded off the 2025/26 season in style after beating Grimsby Town 2-0 away from home.
First-half goals from Josh Wade and Reuben Towers proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Mark Birch made four changes from last weekend’s defeat against Port Vale, with Ted Thwaites, Jason Blaylock, Will Rafferty and Jonah Lowes coming into the team.
United started strongly in Lincolnshire, and controlled the early possession stats.
Kai Muldoon came close to giving the Blues the lead inside 15 minutes, but his effort from close range flashed wide of goal.
United would open the scoring less than two minutes later, when Josh Wade got on the end of Will Rafferty’s brilliant in-swinging cross and managed to finish easily from close range.
Reuben Towers would double United’s lead 20 minutes later, after showing some excellent footwork to beat several Grimsby defenders before slotting the ball into the net.
HALF-TIME: Grimsby Town 0-2 Carlisle United
The young Blues continued their dominance over Grimsby and controlled the vast majority of the second-half.
Jonah Lowes, who signed his first professional contract last week, was unfortunate not to get a goal, when his long-range effort narrowly dropped over the crossbar.
The Mariners offered very little in an attacking sense, United ‘keeper Sam Worth was rarely called upon in an excellent defensive display.
The Blues nearly rounded off the game by getting a third goal, but Muldoon was denied from a narrow angle by Grimsby’s goalkeeper.
United managed to see out the rest of the game, and finished the EFL Alliance North season with an impressive victory over a strong Mariners side.
FULL-TIME: Grimsby Town 0-2 Carlisle United
Teams:
Carlisle United: Worth, Thwaites (Moynan 86’, Bell, Blaylock (Wheatley 46’), Miller, Boertien, Rafferty (Cumersky 86’), Lowes (C), Towers (Hodgson 48’), Muldoon, Wade
Unused subs: Atherton
Goals:
Grimsby Town: N/A
Carlisle United: (Wade 16’), (Towers 35’)
Yellow Cards:
Grimsby Town: N/A
Carlisle United: (Towers 47’)
Red Cards:
Grimsby Town: N/A
Carlisle United: N/A
