All six summer signings were on show as the Mariners began their pre-season programme with a 1-0 victory over Cleethorpes Town.

Head coach David Artell named almost completely different XIs for each half of the opening friendly, with only goalkeeper Seb Auton playing the full 90 minutes.

New boys Jayden Sweeney, Justin Amaluzor and Zac Gilsenan were among the starting line-up, with Reece Staunton, Jamie Walker and Jaze Kabia wearing the black and white shirts for the first time in the second half.

After neither side was able to break the deadlock in the first half, Danny Rose grabbed what turned out to be the only goal of the afternoon 11 minutes after the break.

Both teams created further chances but could not add to the score in what was an excellent workout for Town and their Northern Premier League hosts, played in front of a bumper crowd at the Linden Club.

Auton started in goal for the Mariners, with Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Matty Carson forming a back three. Sweeney and Amaluzor took up wing-back roles as Geza Turi, Gilsenan and Evan Khouri lined up in midfield, with Kieran Green supporting striker Cameron Gardner.

Cleethorpes named former Town players Ollie Battersby and Aaron Brathwaite in their starting line-up, with Charlie Clements among the substitutes for last season’s Northern Premier League East division champions.

FIRST HALF

The hosts had the first opportunity of the afternoon when right-back Connor O’Grady headed over the bar from an early corner.

Amaluzor then created Town’s first chance on eight minutes, working the space to launch a shot from distance which stung the palms of Battersby.

Carson had to head behind for a corner at the other end soon afterwards and from it, Callum Foster hit the bar with a towering header. The ball was scrambled away for another corner, which turned into a third, although this time, McJannet cleared.

Josh Walker met a low cross to slide a first-time shot wide at the near post as the hosts’ strong start continued, before Gardner combined with Gilsenan to create a chance for Town. Battersby came off his line to deny the former Blackburn Rovers attacker.

Henry Brown replaced Gilsenan as the Mariners made the first substitution of the game on 31 minutes, then Walker glanced a header wide from a Cleethorpes free kick.

Town had to wait until two minutes before the break for their next chance, as Turi called Battersby into action to stop a low strike from 25 yards.

And with no further opportunities coming for either side in what was left of the half, the game remained goalless at the interval.

SECOND HALF

Auton and Brown remained on the pitch in what was otherwise a fully-changed Grimsby team for the second half, with Tyrell Warren, Doug Tharme and Staunton now in defence. Darragh Burns, George McEachran, Brown, Walker and Charles Vernam lined up across the midfield, with Kabia and Danny Rose leading the attack.

Rose fired wide after a great piece of skill from Brown to turn into the penalty area from the left and find Kabia five minutes in.

Cleethorpes then won a corner at the other end but Reece Kendall sent this header from it off-target.

Clements was among those to come on as Cleethorpes made a triple-substitution, then Auton dived to make a good save from Walker on 55 minutes and showed quick reactions to get to the rebound first.

And seconds later, the Mariners opened the scoring as Brown found ROSE and the skipper sent a low, powerful finish past Battersby at his near post.

After Elliott Smith replaced Vernam, a foul on Brown gave Town a free kick near the right corner flag but the keeper was first to Burns’ far-post delivery and punched clear.

Curtis Bateson had an opportunity to level the scores for the home side soon afterwards but could not generate enough power on his low strike to beat Auton.

Smith narrowly missed the target with a low shot across goal, then Kabia was denied by Battersby and lifted the rebound over the bar, as the Mariners aimed to double their advantage.

The hosts were inches away from an equaliser with 10 minutes to go though, as Clements looked up from the left and picked out a trialist, only for his low shot to bounce back off the post.

Warren made an excellent block soon afterwards to keep Town ahead, before Rose won a Grimsby corner which was headed behind for another one. The pressure continued as Kabia saw a header tipped over the bar, although this time, the corner was headed clear by Clements.

McEachran was also denied by the keeper when he drilled a powerful effort from the edge of the box.

That proved to be the final opportunity to add to the score as the Mariners closed out the remainder of the game to kick-off pre-season with a win.

Town are next in action on Tuesday, when they face Grimsby Borough at the Bradley Football Development Centre in their second friendly of the summer.

Town (first half): Auton, Rodgers, McJannet, Carson, Amaluzor, Turi, Khouri, Gilsenan (Brown), Sweeney, Green, Gardner
(Second half): Auton, Warren, Tharme, Staunton, Burns, McEachran, Brown, Walker, Vernam (Smith), Kabia, Rose

UTM