The Mariners wrapped up their pre-season programme with a 3-2 victory over Peterborough United at Blundell Park.

Jaze Kabia opened the scoring for Town, before Charles Vernam’s penalty made it 2-0 five minutes before half-time.

A young Peterborough XI fought back after the break, with Cian Hayes halving their deficit before Eddie Fox levelled the scores with five minutes to go.

But Jayden Sweeney had the final say, as his late goal secured a win for David Artell’s side in their last test before the start of the new Sky Bet League Two season on August 2.

Seb Auton started in goal for Town, with Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme, Cameron McJannet and Sweeney forming the defence.  Geza Turi and Evan Khouri sat behind Darragh Burns, Kieran Green and Vernam in midfield, as Kabia led the attack.

Tyrell Warren, Reece Staunton, Sam Lavelle, Jamie Walker, Cameron Gardner, Justin Amaluzor and Henry Brown were all named as substitutes.

League One Peterborough travelled north for their second friendly in two days, with manager Darren Ferguson splitting his squad between this game and Friday night’s 2-2 draw at Colchester United.

As a result, the Posh XI had a youthful look to it, with members of the club’s U18 and U21 squads included alongside some more established first-team players.

FIRST HALF

Peterborough won the first corner on seven minutes after a pacy run by Kyrell Lisbie resulted in a low cross towards Chris Conn-Clarke, although the low ball from the flag was comfortably dealt with.

A foul by Khouri gave the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position on 11 minutes and it turned into another corner when Conn-Clarke’s strike took a deflection on its way wide of the near post.

Town took the lead three minutes later, from their first chance of the game.  A mistake at the back presented KABIA with the opportunity and he coolly slotted past teenage goalkeeper Bastian Smith.

Vernam saw a shot blocked after meeting a great cross-field ball from Rodgers and cutting inside from the left, then Kabia won a corner on the right as the Mariners came forward again.

The hosts went close to doubling their lead when Burns played a perfect through-ball for Green inside the box but the midfielder’s low shot rolled inches wide of the far post, with Smith beaten.

A corner from the away left on 38 minutes was cleared, then Town were given their chance to make it 2-0 when Vernam was brought down inside the box after cutting in from the left.  The referee pointed to the penalty spot and VERNAM got up to confidently beat Smith from 12 yards.

Green headed wide from a corner as the Mariners looked to stretch their lead further before the break.

But with no further chances coming, Town had to settle for a two-goal advantage at half-time.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and Rodgers headed an early cross from the away right clear, then a corner soon afterwards was also dealt with.

A foul by Sweeney gave Peterborough a free kick but the offside flag went up as Conn-Clarke floated the ball into the box from it.

The game’s first substitution came three minutes before the hour, after Burns went down with an injury near the centre circle.  After receiving treatment on the pitch, he was replaced by Amaluzor.

An appeal for a second penaly was waved away by the referee after Khouri went down inside the box on 65 minutes, then Warren and Walker replaced McJannet and Green in Town’s second and third changes.

Another Conn-Clarke corner was headed through to Auton, then Walker almost took advantage of a mistake at the other end but the ball eventually ran through to keeper Smith.

A shirt-pull on Amaluzor brought a free kick in a promising position near the right edge of the Peterborough box but Town were unable to make the most of it as Sweeney fired over the bar.

And soon afterwards, the away side were back within one goal, as HAYES squeezed a low shot past Auton from a narrow angle.

A strike by Walker took a deflection and looped over the bar at the other end as Town aimed to restore their two-goal cushion.

Lavelle was sent on for his first action since signing for Town from Carlisle United when he replaced Tharme on 77 minutes, with Gardner coming on for Vernam at the same time.

The offside flag went up against Gardner when his header from an Amaluzor cross was well-saved by Smith, as Town continued to attack.

Amaluzor then linked up well with Walker to create a chance for the former Bradford City attacker but Smith was equal to his shot from inside the box.

Moments later, the visitors drew level, as a well-worked move led to James Dornelly crossing from the right for FOX to score from close range.

But Town hit back to restore their lead with a minute to go, as Smith pushed Amaluzor’s 20-yard strike into the path of SWEENEY, who followed up to find the net from the rebound.

Four added minutes were played and the Mariners saw out the remainder of the game to end their pre-season campaign with a win.

All thoughts now turn to the start of the League Two season on Saturday, when Crawley Town will be the visitors to Blundell Park.

Town: Auton, Rodgers, Tharme (Lavelle, 77), McJannet (Warren, 66), Sweeney, Turi, Khouri, Burns (Amaluzor, 57), Green (Walker, 66), Vernam (Gardner, 77), Kabia

Subs not used: Staunton, Brown

UTM