Jeff Smith came back in to the starting line up for the FA Cup First Round replay at Blundell Park, with Simon Hackney taking a place on the bench alongside Luke Joyce, making his first appearance in the first team squad since last season.
It was a bright start from the Cumbrians and they had an early chance to take the lead when Graham robbed Bennett of possession in a dangerous position. Cutting in to the box he pulled the ball across the face of goal, spotting Garner in space. With just the keeper to beat he swung his leg at it, but couldn't connect and the chance was gone.
The Mariners responded immediately with a flowing attack that took Toner in to a crossing area. He managed to dig it out, despite the close attentions of Aranalde, and Danny North was there to volley the awkwardly bouncing ball towards the target. Westwood was beaten, but it smashed against the upright and rebounded back in to the box. Hunt tried to make it his, but it went over the target as he did his best to get some kind of header on it.
A neatly worked corner routine almost paid off for United in the 8th minute when Bridge-Wilkinson played it to Murphy. His in-swinging delivery was difficult for Montgomery, who found himself out of the equation and in no-man's land. Livesey did well to reach it, but he stretched and could only guide his header back across the face of goal and behind for a free kick.
North sent a rasping 19 yard volley over the bar on 9 minutes, and should have scored 60 seconds later when Carlisle were caught flat at the back. The lively forward broke through and, with the Blue shirts screaming for offside, went one on one with the keeper. The big United stopper remained calm and was able to block with his legs and get the ball away.
Aranalde tried a speculative effort in the 16th minute, when a gap opened up in front of him, but it was always rising as it angled harmlessly away.
Patient possession football from Grimsby almost opened the door on 24 minutes when a move down the right eventually found Toner in space. He went for a low drive, but it was blocked, only to bounce back towards the crafty midfielder. Pushing it wide he crossed deep, inviting Gary Jones to rise and powerfully nod it towards the back of the net. The woodwork came in to play again, but Carlisle couldn't quite get it clear. It was quickly swung back in, and Westwood was forced in to an athletic save, pushing it out for a corner as it threatened to creep in to the top corner.
The visitors played some good football of their own in the 35th minute when Raven wasted no time in feeding the ball in to the box. Graham nodded it down, setting it nicely for Gall to race on to. He connected with a beauty, but Montgomery was across quickly, tipping it wide of his goal.
Garner then showed some skill in the next foray forward when he took it to the bye line and hooked it back in to the 6 yard area. Graham was first to react but his header was poorly directed, flying a yard wide of the intended target.
It was better from the Cumbrians as half time approached, as they sent men forward and sprayed the ball around the edge of the box, but it wouldn't fall for them in front of goal, leaving Lumsdon and Smith to try their luck from well outside the area.
Half Time: Grimsby 0 - 0 United
It was all very tight after the break as both teams struggled to settle, with little in the way of openings in front of goal. Danny Graham tried to take Montgomery by surprise with a volley on the turn on 52 minutes, but it was always difficult and the keeper was happy to watch it as it screwed behind his goal.
Gary Jones found the side netting in the 57th minute, when he glanced a Bennett long throw onwards, and he was disappointed as he discovered that he was unmarked and could have taken a touch.
Things sprung in to life in the 62nd minute, though, when Gary Jones and Danny North combined with a tight one-two to split the Cumbrian defence in two. It was then all about whether the experienced striker could find the touch required to beat the keeper, and he flicked it with the outside of his boot, lofting it over the stranded Westwood and calmly in to the back of the net.
Ciaran Toner thought he'd doubled the lead in the 64th minute when he broke clear on the edge of the area, but he got himself under it and popped the shot over the bar. Jeff Smith did the same at the other end, signalling a switch from John Ward as he sent Carlton on for Gall, pushing three strikers in to the faces of the Mariners defence.
The introduction of Carlton nearly had the desired effect on 72 minutes when he executed a slide rule pass that left Grimsby flat-footed. Graham did everything right, thumping the ball across Montgomery and on target. Somehow the Mariners stopper adjusted enough to get to it, and parried it away for Newey to clear long.
Bridge-Wilkinson pushed further forward, in support if the front men, following the introduction of Simon Hackney on the left, and his 77th minute cross was millimetres away from the head of Danny Graham as he flung himself at it at full length.
Montgomery was called in to action twice within the space of two minutes, and he was equal to it on both occasions as he defended his clean sheet with some unbelievable saves. Graham and Carlton were denied first from a Hackney cross, with Danny Livesey denied by the save of the night when he crashed a Bridge-Wilkinson corner through the bodies, only to find the sentry on duty completely refusing to budge.
Westwood had to be on his toes in the 86th minute when Grimsby worked the ball in to a good position, putting Danny North in to an excellent area. He shaped to pick his spot, but the big Carlisle keeper moved quickly and pushed the effort away.
The home side had their tails up and Toner robbed Lumsdon in midfield in the 89th minute, racing onwards and getting the ball in to the box. Livesey and Murphy combined to make sure that neither Jones or North could capitalise, and it was a much needed block that snuffed out a very dangerous situation.
Hackney jinked in and out of challenges with the clock rapidly ticking down but, with passing options available, he chose to shoot and blazed it high, wide and way off target. It was the last action of the game and Grimsby celebrated at the final whistle as they progressed to Round Two of the FA Cup.
Goals
Grimsby - Jones (62)
Bookings
Grimsby - North (18)
Teams
Grimsby - Montgomery, Clarke, Newey, Hunt, Bennett, Fenton, Bolland (Hegarty 36), Till (Taylor 81), Jones, Toner, North. Subs - Bore, Overton, Jarman.
United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde, Gall (Carlton 67), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith (Hackney 75), Graham, Garner. Subs - Howarth, Arnison, Joyce.
Away fans - 180
