The Mariners shared the points with Chesterfield after a tough battle in freezing conditions at Blundell Park.

In an open, entertaining first half, Jordan Davies gave Town the lead but the away side responded with an equaliser from centre-back Tom Naylor.

After the break, it was a more cagey affair with fewer chances and although Grimsby had the better opportunities, they were forced to settle for their first home draw of the season.

Justin Obikwu made his return from injury as one of three changes to the starting line-up following Town’s defeat at Bradford City last time out.  Lewis Cass and Jayden Luker were the others to come into the XI as Tyrell Warren, Luca Barrington and Danny Rose all moved to the bench.

Jordan Wright began in goal, with Cass, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume formed the defence.  George McEachran, Evan Khouri and Jordan Davies were the midfielders, while Luker and Jason Svanthorsson lined up either side of striker Obikwu.

Charles Vernam returned to the matchday squad on the bench after featuring in the reserves’ 3-0 victory over Notts County in midweek.  He was joined there by Seb Auton, Kieran Green, Curtis Thompson, Barrington, Warren and Rose.

Chesterfield began the day one place and three points behind the Mariners in the Sky Bet League Two table and knowing a victory would take them above their hosts on goal difference.

Paul Cook’s team included ex-Town loanee striker Aribim Pepple, while Paddy Madden could provide further firepower from the bench.

The Mariners went close to opening the scoring within a minute of kick-off when a great ball over the top from McEachran found Svanthorsson, although he could only watch his low strike from the right roll inches wide of the far post.

Goalkeeper Max Thompson raced out of his penalty area to beat Obikwu to another long pass, before Svanthorsson won a free kick in a dangerous position to the left of centre.  Davies’ shot from it bounced off the Chesterfield wall and spun away for a corner, which was put behind for a goal kick.

Wright’s first action at the other end saw him block a low strike by Ryan Colclough for a corner on the away left and Davies headed the flag-kick behind for another one, which caused no problems.

A run from Obikwu was eventually stopped by Darren Oldaker, before Liam Mandeville won another corner for Chesterfield on their right.  Town struggled to clear their lines after Jamie Grimes won the first header but when the ball dropped for Armando Dobra inside the six-yard box, he could only lift it over the bar.

And the visitors were punished for that miss as Town broke the deadlock seconds later, with 17 minutes on the clock.  After Chesterfield initially looked to have dealt with a Mariners attack, Svanthorsson headed the ball back into the box for Davies and he sent a low finish past Thompson and into the net.

The away side’s response saw them win a free kick on the right for a foul by Hume but Mandeville’s set piece did not find its target and Town cleared.

Rodgers had to clear off the line after Bailey Hobson met a left-wing cross with a header at the far post, then Rodgers was involved again at the other end when a Hume free kick at the other end broke for him but the centre-back could not turn it towards goal.

Hume escaped a booking after pulling Hobson back as the winger looked to cut inside from the right and this time, Mandeville’s free kick eventually broke for Dobra but the midfielder fired wide.

The away pressure continued as Colclough pulled the ball back for Naylor, whose shot took a deflection for a corner on 33 minutes.  And this time, they found their equaliser as Mandeville’s left-wing delivery found Naylor and he flicked a near-post header past Wright.

After levelling the scores, Chesterfield kept the pressure on as they searched for a way to complete the turnaround before half-time, with the Mariners forced to defend.

Wright caught a corner from the left after a dangerous attack as the half moved into one added minute, then a neat move around the edge of the Town box led to another one, which was headed behind for a third corner in quick succession.  This time, Wright beat Pepple to the ball from the flag and a free kick was eventually given in Town’s favour in what proved to be the last action of the half.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and an early foul on Mandeville gave Chesterfield a free kick on the edge of the Grimsby penalty area.  Oldaker whipped it over the defensive wall and across goal but the ball dropped harmlessly wide.

A foul on Hume brought a free kick in a promising position at the other end, although the left-back’s delivery into the box only found the gloves of Thompson.

The goalkeeper came off his line to deny Luker soon afterwards as the Town pressure built and a corner followed moments later, which Hobson headed clear.

Hume won another corner as the hosts kept going forward and it led to a penalty appeal when Davies went down under a challenge from Thompson.  The referee instead pointed for a goal kick and Svanthorsson was shown the yellow card for dissent in the aftermath.

Rose replaced Obikwu as Town made the first substitution on 64 minutes and a Davies long throw was headed out for a corner seconds later.  Hume’s left-wing delivery was cleared.

Chesterfield boss Cook responded with a double-substitution of his own, sending Madden and James Berry on in place of Pepple and Hobson.

Naylor was booked for a late challenge on Rose in front of the dug-outs, before Dobra won a corner on the away left, which Rodgers headed clear.

Another corner followed on the right but after it was played short, right-back Ryheem Sheckleford ran the ball out for a goal kick.

Green replaced Khouri on 75 minutes, then Hume did well to intercept a low cross from the away right and bring the ball clear.

Tim Akinola and Kane Drummond were sent on in place of Oldaker and Colclough for the visitors with 11 minutes to go, before a Hume free kick from he left sailed out of play for a goal kick.

John Fleck came on for Mandeville in Chesterfield’s final change, with the Mariners pushing forward in a bid to win the game as the clock ticked down.

A great piece of skill by Hume saw him work an opening to play a through-ball for Svanthorsson but the winger could not make the chance count.

Vernam then replaced Svanthorsson with 86 minutes on the clock, before another Town penalty appeal was waved away when Rose went down under contact from Branden Horton.

The game was moving from end to end at pace as both teams looked for a winning goal, with a minimum of three added minutes to be played.

Rose won a free kick inside the Chesterfield half but Hume’s ball to the edge of the box was headed clear by Berry.

That proved to be the last opportunity for either side to win the game and as a result, they were forced to settle for a point apiece.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Barrow.

Town: Wright, Cass, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume, McEachran, Khouri (Green, 75), Davies, Luker, Obikwu (Rose, 64), Svanthorsson (Vernam, 86)

Subs not used: Auton, Thompson, Barrington, Warren

Attendance, brought to you by Elegant Beds: 6,706