Second-half goals from Danny Rose and Justin Obikwu gave the Mariners a superb away victory over Bromley at Hayes Lane. Town were forced to soak up pressure for long spells of the first 45 minutes but they defended well to ensure the game remained goalless at the interval.

After the break, it was a different story as Rose struck within a minute of the restart to put the visitors ahead. And they went on to dominate the remainder of the game, with Obikwu’s low finish sealing all three points in south London and securing Town’s first win of 2025, as substitute Lewis Cass’ late red card was the only negative from a great performance on the road.

Three changes were made to the Grimsby starting line-up after Tuesday’s home draw with Gillingham, as Cameron McJannet, Denver Hume and Obikwu replaced Cass, George McEachran and Charles Vernam.

There was also a change of shape into a 3-5-2 formation, with goalkeeper Jordan Wright behind a defence of Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and McJannet.

Jason Svanthorsson and Hume began in the wing-back positions as Evan Khouri, Kieran Green and Curtis Thompson made up the midfield, while Rose joined Obikwu in attack. Cass, McEachran and Vernam were all named on the bench, alongside Seb Auton, Matty Carson, Callum Ainley and Jayden Luker.

Bromley boss, Andy Woodman made five changes to his team after their 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield in midweek, with new signing Adam Mayor coming straight into the attack after joining on loan from Millwall.

FIRST HALF

Rose won an early free kick on the right but home keeper Grant Smith got to Hume’s delivery first to punch the ball away.

A pull-back from Rose did not find a team-mate, then McJannet saw a shot blocked and Thompson won a corner on the right as Town’s promising opening continued.

But after Hume played the ball short from the flag, Svanthorsson’s pass for Thompson was too short and the midfielder picked up the afternoon’s first yellow card for a foul.

Bromley then stared to come into the game, with long throws from Kamarl Grant causing problems.

Ben Thompson was shown the home side’s first yellow card after a late challenge on Hume on eight minutes, before Smith got to a long ball first under pressure from Green.

Tharme beat Jude Arthurs to a ball into the Town box from Corey Whitely at the end of a quick break by Bromley, then Wright was called into action for the first time when a mistake in defence gave Michael Cheek a clear sight of goal. The keeper did well to block the striker’s shot for a corner, which led to an away free kick for a push.

Louis Dennis lifted an attempt over the bar at the end of a flowing move as the home side attacked at pace on 22 minutes, before Wright opted to punch a Mayor cross away and Bromley kept possession to win a corner on their left. Again, the referee spotted a foul and blew for a Town free kick as Thompson sent the ball across from the flag.

A Tharme long throw was cleared at the other end, then Rose was caught offside after Obikwu touched on a ball from Green. Wright made a good save soon afterwards to turn a drive from Dennis over the bar for a corner, before Rose became the latest to be booked on the half-hour for a foul in a central position, 25 yards from goal.

Thompson’s low shot hit the Town wall and was eventually cleared. Bromley kept the pressure on though and they won another corner on the right, which was headed away before Rodgers completed the clearance. Green saw a penalty appeal waved away after going down under a challenge from Byron Webster on 36 minutes, then a cross from Obikwu was headed away as Town looked to build some pressure of their own.

But another quick break by the hosts saw them win a corner and it led to a penalty appeal for a handball by Thompson amid a scramble.

Again, the referee turned the claim down and pointed for a goal kick after the ball went out of play. Rodgers made a good block to deny Dennis from a Danny Imray pull-back as Bromley attacked again on 41 minutes. Wright got to the resulting corner first to punch clear. Another home corner followed three minutes later and it was put behind by Obikwu.

This time, the ball was played short from the flag and the home side kept possession. One added minute was played at the end of the first half and there was time for a ninth Bromley corner when Tharme headed a cross behind.

Cheek was penalised for a foul as Mayor sent the ball across and as that proved to be the final action of the half, the teams headed in level at the break.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made at half-time and Town took the lead within a minute of the restart.

Svanthorsson broke down the right and after Green took the ball on with a strong run, he pulled it back for ROSE, who despite being sat on the ground, managed to flick it up and beat Smith at his near post.

After being under pressure for much of the first half, the Mariners now had something to hold on to but they immediately went in search of more goals, with McJannet winning a corner on the left.

It was played short before Hume flashed the ball across goal, although nobody could get to it.

Another corner followed on 51 minutes as Town continued to dominate but Green was narrowly beaten to a near-post header and Svanthorsson sent a low strike wide from 25 yards when the ball broke for him.

Rodgers blocked a shot from Mayor and Wright came off his line to gather the loose ball as Bromley launched their first attack of note since the break on 54 minutes.

A great run by Svanthorsson took him into the Bromley box from the right just before the hour, although the home defence eventually recovered to clear.

Mayor won a corner at the other end soon afterwards but McJannet was in place to head Thompson’s left-wing delivery clear. Rose launched a counter-attack when his perfectly-weighted ball sent Green clear into the Bromley half. He then passed to Obikwu but the striker could not apply a finish.

Lewis Leigh and Brooklyn Ilunga replaced Thompson and Mayor as the hosts made a double-substitution on 63 minutes in a bid to change the game in their favour.

But Town had the next chance as Obikwu found Rose, who fired wide from 20 yards. McEachran replaced Thompson in the away side’s first change on 66 minutes and four minutes later, the Mariners had a second goal. A

fter a good spell of possession inside the Bromley half, Green found Khouri and when his blocked shot broke for Obikwu, the striker sent an emphatic finish into the far-bottom corner of the net.

A corner at the other end was well-dealt with as the hosts looked to respond but Town were still on top and continuing to look dangerous as they searched for more goals.

Nicke Kabamba and Cameron Congreve replaced Webster and Dennis as Bromley made another double-substitution.

The impressive Green then saw a shot blocked from distance, before Svanthorsson went on a run into the box but was eventually crowded out and picked up a booking for a trip on Arthurs.

Vernam and Cass came on for Obikwu and Svanthorsson with five minutes to go and Hume was booked soon afterwards for a foul on Congreve on the home right. McJannet headed Congreve’s free kick away and the rebound was blocked and cleared by Rose.

Ainley replaced Khouri as the game moved into a minimum of five added minutes and Town went close to a third goal when a low effort by McEachran from the edge of the box clipped the outside of the far post on its way out for a goal kick.

The Mariners were forced to play the final few seconds of the game with 10 men as Cass was shown two yellow cards in quick succession for twice kicking the ball away after a foul.

But that would not spoil what had been a brilliant afternoon in the capital city for Town and their sold-out away following of 491.

Next up is a return to Blundell Park, where Carlisle United will be the visitors on Saturday.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Svanthorsson (Cass, 85), Khouri (Ainley, 90+1), Green, Thompson (McEachran, 66), Hume, Obikwu (Vernam, 85), Rose Subs not used: Auton, Carson, Luker