Carlisle found the gulf in class between the 1st and 3rd divisions too much to bridge on a night when Grimsby Town comfortably went through to the second round of the Worthington Cup.
The Cumbrians could not produce the form shown at Kidderminster and had to defend for long periods against the Mariners who could not convert their chances into goals.
Player-coach Julian Darby was pleased with the performance and said: "We scored another good goal through Ian Stevens but had to defend for long periods, which we did effectively. We could do better going forward but we are getting things right at the back and that is a solid base to build on."
Grimsby started brightly with Steve Livingstone narrowly heading a 10th minute effort over the bar from a Stacey Coldicott cross.
Three minutes later Bradley Allen turned sharply in the Cumbrian box forcing Luke Weaver to turn his shot round the post.
The home sides first meaningful attack produced another goal from the Scott Dobie/Ian Stevens double act. A superb 50 yard pass from Julian Darby found Dobie down the right. Dobie's turn of pace took him past the Mariners defence and his cross was volleyed home by Ian Stevens on 17th minutes.
Grimsby dominated the play after the goal producing good passing football which had the Blues defending for long periods. The mariners could not turn their possession into goals but Alan Pouton went close when his 34th minute shot was saved by Weaver. Pouton should have scored six minutes later but pulled his shot wide from Codicott's through ball.
The deserved equaliser came on the stroke of half time, when a long free kick was headed down by Steve Livingstone for Bradley Allen to turn Darby before slotting passed Weaver.
The second half continued with Grimsby on top and Livingstone should have scored but headed weakly across goal. Three minutes later a Michael Jeffrey free kick was turned round the post by Weaver.
On 62 minutes Richard Tracey wasted a good opportunity for the Cumbrians by choosing to shoot when he could have played in Dobie who was clear on the right hand side of the box.
Grimsby almost snatched it in the last minute when Livingstone had a shot blocked by Mark Winstanley, closely followed by a Bradley Allen turn and shot straight at Weaver.
Carlisle United: Weaver; Birch (Pitts 87), Squires, Darby (Lee 78), Winstanley, Hemmings, Soley (Thwaites 45), Carss, Dobie, Tracey, Stevens. Subs not used: McAughtrie, Thurston.
Goals: Stevens 17.
Bookings: Prokas 51.
Grimsby Town: Coyne. McDermott (Black 79), Handyside (Bloomer 64), D. Smith, Jeffrey (Clare 68), Groves, Livingstone, Raven, Coldicott, Allen, Pouton. Subs not used: Croudson, Buckley
Goals: Allen 45
Bookings: None.
Attendance: 2,228
Referee: M. Pike (Barrow in Furness)
