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He never really hit it off at Brunton Park from the start, making his debut in the 1-0 win over Kidderminster in the LDV Vans Trophy Northern Semi-Final the day after joining up with the Blues. Rivers never looked fit from the get-go and struggled to find any form in his spell with Carlisle, making only four starts and two substitute apperances in his short-lived spell in Cumbria. With the first-team in such fine form as well, it was always going to be difficult for him to break into a starting eleven that was playing so well as a settled unit.
Reduced to playing in the reserves successful Pontin's Holidays League Division One West title-winning campaign the Crewe-born front-man did actually grab a hat-trick in a 5-2 second-string away win at Wrexham. With manager Paul Simpson now already planning for a campaign next season in League One though, it always looked unlikely that Rivers would be kept on. Today that question was answered, when, following talks with Simpson, Rivers was released early from his playing contract by mutual consent.