Carlisle United 2 Stevenage 1: Goals from Joe Riley and Lewis Alessandra saw the Blues win their last home game of the 2021/22 season.
In the first outing since Paul Simpson signed a three-year deal to remain in charge, Riley struck on 53 minutes and sub Alessandra ten minutes later against Steve Evans' visitors.
A late penalty from Luke Norris cut Stevenage's arrears but Carlisle held on for a fifth home win from seven since Paul Simpson's return to Brunton Park.
There was also a debut for teenage defender Jack Ellis as the Cumbrians returned to winning ways in front of a 5,701 crowd.
Simpson handed a first senior outing to 18-year-old Cumbrian defender Ellis in his penultimate XI of the season.
The Kendal teenager came into the side along with Kristian Dennis and Corey Whelan, as Dynel Simeu and Danny Devine dropped to the bench.
Ellis started on the right of United's back five, with Riley moving into central midfield.
A Jordan Gibson cross clipped the bar in the second minute, while Omari Patrick and Jack Armer almost fashioned an early chance for Carlisle.
At the other end, Luke Prosser hit the post - but from there it was a half low on incident or excitement as two teams with safety in the bag faced each other.
On 25 minutes, Stevenage's Norris worked his way clear of defenders to the right of goal but finished the attack with an air shot.
Patrick tried to inject some urgency into Carlisle's attacking, but his best attempts were blocked, likewise Brennan Dickenson and Riley, who saw powerful attempts repelled by Prosser.
United keeper Mark Howard drew cheers when he dropped the shoulder and dribbled past Jamie Reid in the home area, but there were few other thrills in a first 45 minutes which very much had an end-of-season air.
That changed, though, eight minutes into the second half when United took the lead.
First, Patrick managed to keep the ball in play and then, after a Dickenson cross, Riley received the ball 25 yards out.
He shifted it to the right in space, and then sent a firm shot across Christy Pym and into the bottom corner.
It was a third goal of the season for the former Manchester United man.
Stevenage should have quickly levelled when an error at the back allowed Norris to play in Ed Upson, but he failed to beat Howard from a great position.
An injury then saw Riley replaced by Alessandra before the hour mark.
And the sub took only five minutes to get on the scoresheet, sliding in at the back post to double Carlisle's lead as he converted a dangerous Armer cross.
It was a second of the campaign for the experienced frontman, and put most of the crowd in good spirits as United upped things in the second half.
Carlisle dominated from here, with Stevenage offering nothing as an attacking threat bar one Norris header sharply saved by Howard - the frontman offside in any case.
In the closing stages, sub Charlie Carter headed a Luther Wildin cross wide for the visitors, before Dennis shot over from 20 yards for the Blues.
Stevenage then got one back when, following a corner, Whelan was adjudged to have fouled Scott Cuthbert, and Norris beat Howard from the resulting penalty.
Following the goal, United debutant Ellis got a warm ovation from the home fans as he was replaced by Kelvin Mellor.
Another sub, Tyrese Omotoye, had a shot blocked in added time as Carlisle ended their Brunton Park commitments for 2021/22 on a winning note.
They sit 18th in the table ahead of their final game at Bradford City next weekend.
United: Howard, Ellis (Mellor 89), Feeney, Mellish, Armer, Whelan, Riley (Alessandra 57), Dickenson, Gibson, Patrick, Dennis (Omotoye 87). Not used: Norman, Devine, McDonald, Simeu.
Goals: Riley 53, Alessandra 63.
Stevenage: Pym, Wildin, Cuthbert, Prosser, List (Carter 62), Taylor, Norris, Upson (Lines 62), Reid, Barry, Bostwick. Not used: Walker, Coker, Andrade, Daly, Read.
Goals: Norris 89pen.
Booked: Taylor.
Ref: Darren Drysdale.
Crowd: 5,701 (98 Stevenage fans).
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