Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park

GRIMSBY Town advanced to the second round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2003-04 season with a single-goal victory over lacklustre Carlisle United in this replay at Blundell Park.

Gary Jones scored the winner on 61 minutes for Alan Buckley's side, who continued to show the cup prowess they have been lacking in the league and also kept a clean sheet for the first time this campaign.

In a first half of few chances, it was the Mariners who created the better opportunities, with Danny North going close three times as Town took the game to the visitors.

And it was more of the same after the break, with Grimsby edging the possession and the chances, although neither side really looked like going ahead until Jones struck.

Carlisle failed to show any of the form that has taken them to the summit of League One, with their strikers misfiring and failing to test Gary Montgomery in the Town goal until late in the game.

And so, after the 1-1 draw between the sides in the original tie at Brunton Park, it was the Mariners who were able to close out this game and secure a trip to Huddersfield Town in Round Two at the second time of asking.

Town made a change in goal, with Montgomery coming in for Phil Barnes and youth team stopper Leigh Overton getting a place on the bench.

Ryan Bennett came back into the Mariners defence in place of the injured Justin Whittle.Bennett formed a centre back partnership with Nick Fenton, who shrugged off an ankle problem, while Jamie Clarke continued at right back, with Tom Newey on the left.

Two changes were made to the midfield from Saturday's dismal defeat by Morecambe, with Danny Boshell beginning a three-match ban and Nick Hegarty dropping to the bench.Peter Till lined up on the right, Paul Bolland linked up with James Hunt in the middle and Ciaran Toner was restored to the starting XI on the left.

Gary Jones and Danny North began the match as the two strikers, while further attacking options would be provided on the substitutes' bench, with Andy taylor, Nathan Jarman and Peter Bore all being held in reserve, along with Hegarty and Overton.

Carlisle came into the game as the leaders of League One, holding onto top spot despite not playing at the weekend.

John Ward made one change to the Cumbrians' team that contested the first game ten days ago, with Jeff Smith replacing Simon Hackney.

The main threats to the Mariners were likely to come from the likes of midfielder Kevin Gall and Spanish left back Zigor Aranalde.

It was Aranalde who got the goal fro the penalty spot that forced this replay, adding that strike to the two he claimed last time the two teams met at Blundell Park.

Town were looking to carry on the good cup form that saw them claim a draw in the game in the north-west ten days ago as well as dump Doncaster Rovers out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last week.

The visitors would be looking to take their league form into this cup match, after winning four of their last six in League One.But despite their success where points were at stake, Carlisle haven't done as well in knockout games, having lost their Paint Trophy Northern quarter final 3-0 at home to Stockport.

Carlisle had the first chance when a mistake by Bennett let in midfielder Chris Lumsdon but he mis-hit his shot and Town cleared.

Then a third minute opening almost saw the Mariners take the lead.

Till beat Aranalde down the right and crossed to North, who volleyed acrobatically from the penalty spot but saw his shot rebound off the post.

The away side won the first corner after an Aranalde cross was cut out by Clarke.The inswinging kick was headed away for another corner, which was claimed by Montgomery.

Carlisle dictated the early play with their corners putting pressure on the Town defence but the Mariners were still creating chances of their own, one of which led to North firing over the bar on nine minutes.

And the youngster had another shot two minutes later after he was put through by Till.This time, the low drive was beaten away by visiting goalkeeper Kieren Westwood.

At the other end, Aranalde shot over the bar from 35 yards after beating a challenge by Toner on 16 minutes.

North was shown the first yellow card of the night for a foul on centre back Peter Murphy a minute later.

Grimsby were keeping possession well, although there was a lack of an end product in many cases.

That changed on 22 minutes, when a Jones header was saved by Westwood following a cross by Toner.

Then almost straight away Town had another chance, again via the head of Jones but this time after a ball from the right.Again, the Carlisle keeper was equal to the attempt.

After a spell of Grimsby pressure, Carlisle began to regain control of the game, with Kevin Gall having a 25-yard shot saved by Montgomery.

Town's first substitution on 36 minutes after Bolland had been feeling the effects of an injury.He was replaced by Nick Hegarty, who would play down the left wing with Toner moving inside to a central midfield berth.

Danny Graham almost put the visitors ahead with a deft near post header soon afterwards but the ball bounced wide of Montgomery's far post.

Then with three minutes to go before half time, Town were awarded a free kick for a foul on Jones near the half-way line.

Clarke's ball into the box was partially cleared before Hegarty attempted a shot from 20 yards that lacked any power and was easily cleared.

Grimsby were forced to do some defending as the game moved into stoppage time, with the visitors moving forward and getting crosses into the box.

But the Mariners held out and as the whistle blew for half time, Alan Buckley and his team would have been happy with how the first 45 minutes had gone.

Town had more than held their own against the League One leaders and could even have been ahead but for better finishing.

Carlisle had looked threatening going forward but were yet to seriously test Montgomery in the Mariners goal.

No changes were made by either side at the break and it was Grimsby who had the first chance after the restart with a corner from the left.Westwood beat Bennett to the delivery though.

In a low-key opening to the second period, the only other serious action ended in a shot from 18 yards by Graham, the Carlisle striker drilling comfortably wide.

Town responded with long throws from Bennett aimed towards the head of Fenton but with 56 minutes on the clock, neither team was showing any sign of breaking the deadlock.

Carlisle were disappointing, with Murphy's shot from 20 yards sailing into the small band of travelling supporters.

Then, on 61 minutes, Town finally came to life and grabbed the opening goal.

Jones dummied the ball for North on the edge of the box.The youngster then flicked the ball back for his strike partner and JONES lifted it over Westwood with the outside of his foot before watching it drop into the net.

The goal spurred the Mariners on and soon afterwards they almost had another when Toner's drive from 25 yards fizzed just over the bar.

Carlisle boss John Ward took action on 67 minutes as he used his first substitution to replace Kevin Gall with Danny Carlton.

But it was still Town who were controlling the game and looking to extend their lead.The visitors were having an off-night and certainly weren't showing any of the form that has taken them to such a lofty league position.

Montgomery was tested, possibly for the first time, when Graham was put through.He raced into the box before hitting a shot across goal from the left.

The ex-Rotherham stopper pushed the ball away and with no attacker lurking for a rebound, the Mariners defence were able to clear.

The visitors were given a chance to create some danger when they were awarded a free kick midway inside the Grimsby half for a foul by Toner.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's delivery was poor and Montgomery claimed the ball easily.

With 15 minutes left to play, the away side made their second change, introducing Simon Hackney in place of Jeff Smith.

And it was the visitors who were creating the better opportunities, with Graham's diving header from eight yards just off target.

The skill of the substitute Hackney immediately began to cause problems for the Mariners down the left side of midfield, while Montgomery was finding himself having more and more to do as the visitors tried to force their way back into the tie.

Town were the next to make a change, taking off Till and replacing him with Andy Taylor.

Grimsby won a free kick out on the right with five minutes left and the move from it ended with North driving a shot from 20 yards which Westwood could only tip over.

Town were pushing for a second goal and they won a series of corners at the Pontoon End but couldn't turn them into goalscoring opportunities.

Another free kick on the half way line ensured the Mariners kept their forward momentum going.

But as the game moved into added time, it was the visitors who were piling forward as they tried to get the goal that would keep them in the Cup.

Town were having to do some desperate defending but as Hackney fired well wide in the second of the extra minutes, the Mariners supporters sensed victory was in the offing.

And so it proved as the final whistle blew, giving Grimsby the scalp of the League One leaders and securing a passage into Round Two for the first time in four years.

Town now travel to another League One club as they take on Huddersfield Town on December 1.