Morecambe 0 Carlisle United 2: Jordan Gibson and Kelvin Mellor scored as Carlisle United topped their Papa John's Trophy group with a positive display at Morecambe.
The Cumbrians put together one of their brightest performances for some time as they got the better of their League One hosts in Keith Millen's third game in charge.
Sub Gibson opened the scoring from a free-kick early in the second half.
And defender Mellor netted his first Blues goal against his former club six minutes later when he turned home from close range.
United's new manager will also have been impressed by a good midfield display by Danny Devine and Corey Whelan as they gave Millen some selection posers ahead of Saturday's league clash with Barrow.
The victory, which sees Carlisle finish first in northern group A, was played in front of a crowd of just 945 fans, including 159 travelling United fans, in a competition which some fans continue to boycott over its involvement of Premier League Under-21 teams.
Millen made seven changes to the side that started Saturday's 2-0 win over Horsham in the FA Cup.
In his third game in charge, the new Blues boss gave a recall to Mellor, Devine, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Taylor Charters, Morgan Feeney, Manasse Mampala and Brad Young.
Whelan remained in the side along with Mark Howard, Zach Clough and Tristan Abrahams, and was given the captain's armband.
Morecambe's line-up, meanwhile, included their two former Blues in Cole Stockton and Arthur Gnahoua, while keeper Kyle Letheren had to pull out in the warm-up, his place taken by Andre Da Silva Mendes.
The hosts had the better of things early on as they attacked United's left defensive side, which saw Charters at left-back and Arsenal loanee Dinzeyi as left-sided centre-back.
Stockton rolled Dinzeyi at the near post and saw a shot deflect into the side-netting, while Jonah Ayunga saw an effort blocked by midfielder Whelan after turning Charters.
Stockton failed to make the most of another attack when he broke onside, while Ayunga saw a further attempt dealt with by Howard.
Toumani Diagouraga was next to go close for the Shrimps but Carlisle enjoyed a more encouraging spell after the half-hour mark as they kept and used the ball better, with midfielders Devine and Whelan helping them grow into things.
Devine saw a shot deflect wide amid this positive period late in the first half with Whlelan denied after breaking onto a good pass from Clough, who was on the left of midfield with Mampala the right.
Millen replaced Clough with Gibson at the break - and the sub made an instant impact just four minutes into the second half.
He won a free-kick in a useful central position - and then struck a well-taken effort which beat Da Silva Mendes and went into the top left corner.
United were now well on top and after Abrahams was denied by the Morecambe keeper, a Devine ball over the top gave Young a great chance only for Da Silva Mendes to tip it wide of the post.
But the Blues then quickly did add a second when Gibson's corner from the right was won by Feeney, and Mellor had peeled into space to the left of goal to turn the ball home in the 55th minute.
The offside flag denied Stockton a goal back for Morecambe when he pounced on a Howard save, while Anthony O'Connor failed to beat Howard with a free header.
Millen brought on Joe Riley for the last quarter and Sam Fishburn for the final 15 as United dealt with Morecambe's attempts to find a way back, with Abrahams passing up a late chance of a third.
They now go through to Saturday afternoon's regionalised second-round draw when, as group winners, they will be guaranteed a home tie.
Morecambe: Da Silva Mendes, Cooney, L Gibson, O’Connor, Wootton, Jones, Diagouraga (Harrison 78), Wildig (Phillips 78), Ayunga, Gnahoua (McDonald 56), Stockton. Not used: Roche, Delaney, Mensah, Duffus.
Booked: L Gibson.
United: Howard, Mellor, Charters, Dinzeyi, Feeney, Whelan, Devine, Clough, Mampala (Riley 67), Abrahams, Young (Fishburn 75). Not used: Simons, Armer, Guy, Mellish.
Goals: Gibson 49, Mellor 55
Ref: Ross Joyce.
Crowd: 945 (159 United fans)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here