Brigg made a perfect start with Jack Richardson breaking the deadlock inside the first minute.
Athersley responded with a quickfire double from Joshua Berry and Ethan Nixon.
The Zebras drew level on the half hour mark when Richardson raced clear to bag his second goal of the afternoon.
The goal flurry continued with Joe Pugh converting from the spot after being upended in the box.
On the stroke of half time Josh Batty almost doubled Brigg’s lead with a header that rattled the crossbar.
The Zebras picked up where they left off in the second half with Richardson winning another penalty. Pugh made no mistake again to net his second from the spot.
Soon afterwards Batty made it five volleying home Conner Harman’s cross. The striker followed this up with another goal from a tight angle.
It went from bad to worse for the Penguins when Ricky Berry saw red for tripping Richardson, denying him a clear chance to complete a hat-trick.
In the latter stages, McCarron replaced Harman for his 150th Brigg appearance. The Scotsman did so in style finding the net with his first touch – a neat finish from the edge of the box almost as soon as he’d come on.
It was a great moment for McCarron to make the final score 7-2 to the Zebras. It’s safe to say Brigg had saved the best until last winning their final home game emphatically.
The season ends with a trip to Swallownest in midweek – hopefully eighth place will be secured. If not, the Zebras can only settle for ninth in the NCEL Division One.