Grimsby Town 2 Carlisle United 1: Mark Hughes suffered defeat in his first game in charge of the Blues after Grimsby came from behind.

Sam Lavelle gave United an early lead at Blundell Park - but David Artell's side hit back through Justin Obikwu and Danny Rose's penalty.

The Mariners' fightback cost Carlisle the chance to make up ground on their rivals at the foot of League Two.

Lavelle gave them the perfect start when he got the decisive touch to Elliot Embleton's corner in the fifth minute.

Carlisle held on to the break but after Kadeem Harris hit the post in the second half, Grimsby equalised when Obikwu turned and shot home on 63 minutes.

And Rose then handed the hosts the points in the 82nd minute, sending Gabe Breeze the wrong way from the spot after Lavelle had been penalised.

United were unable to find a way back and it is now six defeats in seven games, with 17 matches remaining for them to fight their way to safety under new head coach Hughes.

Stephen Wearne, back from illness, returned to the XI in the only change made by Hughes to the side named by predecessor Mike Williamson in his last game in charge.

Wearne came in for Jordan Jones as the latter served a one-game suspension for his red card in the 5-1 defeat to Swindon Town.

Hosts Grimsby made one change as George McEachran took the place of Curtis Thompson in their team, while recent signing Darragh Burns was among their substitutes.

Mark Hughes arrives at Blundell Park (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Sam Lavelle and Terell Thomas the centre-backs and Josh Williams and Charlie McArthur either side, Callum Whelan and Will Patching the deeper midfield duo with Kadeem Harris wide left, Wearne right and Elliot Embleton behind frontman Joe Hugill.

United survived an early scare when McArthur's clearance went to Justin Obikwu, but Gabe Breeze saved his shot.

Carlisle then built a persistent attack which saw Patching's shot deflect wide - and from the corner they took the lead.

Embleton's delivery from the right was excellent and Lavelle, among a cluster of players, got the decisive touch.

Sam Lavelle, centre, heads United in front (Image: Richard Parkes)

United built further useful passages of play while Grimsby toiled to find a way back.

On 14 minutes Breeze misjudged a looping cross but McArthur ensured the hosts could not profit.

Carlisle then had strong penalty shouts turned down when Wearne went down under Denver Hume's challenge as another Embleton cross came in.

Lavelle then made an important challenge as Obikwu tried to break onto a Rose ball forward.

Stephen Wearne keeps control (Image: Richard Parkes)

Grimsby almost found a way back when Embleton was robbed in United's half but Breeze closed the angle down as Danny Rose tried to finish from the left.

Embleton saw a Blues attempt deflect over while Obikwu went close for the Mariners when he controlled and turned to shoot from the edge of the Carlisle box.

The hosts then had a goal disallowed, Obikwu's shot striking Rose in an offside position before it was scrambled into the net.

Jason Svanthorsson then threatened twice for the hosts, seeing one shot deflect wide before he beat two Blues men and drew a save from Breeze, Kieran Green's follow-up slide on the United keeper not to the liking of captain Lavelle, and the resulting confrontation saw ref Zac Kennard-Kettle speak to both players.

Carlisle then thought they had a penalty when Hugill outpaced the defence and appeared to be fouled by home keeper Jordan Wright - but instead Kennard-Kettle booked the frontman for diving.

United's lead, though, remained intact to the break, with home boss Artell heading to the touchline for the second half having watched the opening period from the stand.

The hosts looked to apply more pressure with Cameron McJannet going close when he met a free-kick from the left.

But United then came within a whisker of doubling their lead when Patching and Whelan combined in midfield before Embleton fed Harris, whose shot from the left broke for Embleton, but his shot was also blocked at close range, appeals for handball proving fruitless for Carlisle.

Moments later, Breeze saved solidly when McArthur failed to clear and Harvey Rodgers cut in from the home right.

Grimsby's Justin Obikwu scores to make it 1-1 (Image: Richard Parkes)

But five minutes later the hosts were level, as Patching and Whelan failed to retain the ball in midfield and Grimsby outnumbered United on the break, Rose eventually feeding Obikwu to turn against McArthur and fire home.

Hughes responded with a double change as he introduced Joe Bevan and Ethan Robson from the bench.

Embleton tested Wright for Carlisle but Rodgers almost weaved through for a Grimsby second.

Breeze then kept out a Rodgers header before Whelan's failure to release Bevan on the break brought a frustrated reaction from Hughes.

The failure by ref Kennard-Kettle to play an advantage to Carlisle also infuriated the Blues - a similar call then frustrating the hosts moments later.

Williams did well to track Evan Khouri's run as Carlisle denied Grimsby another chance on 77 minutes.

But United then went behind five minutes later when Lavelle was penalised for a challenge as the corner came in.

Rose sent Breeze the wrong way from the spot.

Breeze later kept out a McEachran shot from distance but Carlisle struggled to make any headway in their late search for an equaliser.

Rose saw a 90th-minute attempt saved by United's keeper and Carlisle failed to create any late opportunities as they fell to defeat, with a trip to Newport County next on Tuesday.

Grimsby: Wright, McJannet (Warren 79), Tharme, Rodgers, Hume, Khouri (Barrington 87), Green (Thompson 87), McEachran, Svanthorsson, Obikwu (Vernam 84), Rose. Not used: Auton, Burns, Luker.

Goals: Obikwu 63, Rose 83pen.

Booked: Khouri.

United: Breeze, Thomas, Lavelle (Barclay 90), McArthur, Williams, Patching (Robson 64), Whelan, Harris, Embleton (Scott 76), Wearne (Bevan 64), Hugill. Not used: Lewis, Harper, Fusire.

Goal: Lavelle 5.

Booked: Hugill, Lavelle, Embleton, Thomas.

Ref: Zac Kennard-Kettle.

Crowd: 5,788 (551 United fans).