Grimsby Town played out a 1-1 draw with Gainsborough Trinity in their latest pre-season friendly at the Northolme.

The Mariners, playing in their new red and blue away kit, controlled the game for long periods and went in 1-0 up at half-time after Kieran Green opened the scoring.

But despite their dominance, Town were unable to add to their advantage and Sisa Tuntulwana’s goal against the run of play got the Northern Premier League hosts back on level terms.

Mariners head coach David Artell again took the opportunity to rotate his squad during the game, with eight changes made on the hour to give vital playing time to as many as possible.

And with a good turnout of Town fans watching on among the 624 crowd, it was another excellent workout as the build-up to the new Sky Bet League Two season continues.

Those travelling supporters got their first opportunity to see Christy Pym in Mariners colours as he started in goal, with Tyrell Warren, Doug Tharme, Matty Carson and Jayden Sweeney forming the defence in front of the former Mansfield Town stopper.  Geza Turi, Green and Henry Brown were the midfielders, while Jaze Kabia, Cameron Gardner and Darragh Burns made up a front three.

Former Town left-back Adam Crookes was among the home starting XI following his summer move to Gainsborough from York City.  Striker Jonny Margetts would aim to be among the chief attacking threats for Russ Wilcox’s side.

FIRST HALF

An early Gainsborough corner was dealt with, before Brown was caught offside as Town went forward for the first time.

Green sent a cross over from the right on 11 minutes which was just too high for Kabia at the far post, then a low ball across the six-yard line from Kabia had to be put behind for Town’s first corner of the evening, which was headed clear.

Moments later, the Mariners were ahead, as a low cross from Brown was met by GREEN and he beat home keeper David Robson from close range.

Gardner went close to a second goal on 18 minutes but saw his shot bounce off the post after being found by Green.

Town had taken control of the game and Sweeney fired over the bar from 25 yards after another corner broke for him, then Green did well to turn and create space for a strike from a similar distance, which was blocked.

Gainsborough made four changes on the half-hour, before a Town free kick broke for Burns at the far post and his shot took a deflection for a corner.

A chip into the box from Burns proved just too far ahead of the run of Sweeney as Town continued to show promising signs, then Gardner did well to keep the ball in on 41 minutes and pull it back for Sweeney, whose first-time effort was blocked.

A home penalty appeal was waved away soon afterwards following a challenge by Sweeney, before a foul on Burns gave Town a free kick near the right corner of the home penalty area.  Carson shot from it but Robson got down to make a comfortable stop.

That proved to be the final action of the first half, with the Mariners holding a single-goal lead at the break.

SECOND HALF

Cameron McJannet replaced Tharme in the only change to the Grimsby XI ahead of the restart and Green had the first chance of the second half, firing just off-target from the edge of the box.

Gardner stretched to get on the end of a through-ball from Brown moments later but could not get enough power on his shot to beat Robson.

The keeper got down to stop a 25-yard snap-shot from Green on 51 minutes as Town kept looking to double their advantage.

But when the game’s second goal arrived three minutes later, it was the hosts who grabbed it, as TUNTULWANA ran onto a through-ball into he box to beat Pym with a composed finish and get Gainsborough back on level terms.

Green headed a Kabia cross wide at the far post, before both teams made wholesale changes on the hour, with only Brown, McJannet and Carson remaining of the Town team which began the second half.

Seb Auton was now in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, McJannet, Carson and Reece Staunton in defence.  George McEachran, Evan Khouri and Jamie Walker were the midfielders, with Charles Vernam and Brown either side of Justin Amaluzor in attack.

Chances at either end were few and far between for much of the remainder of the game, although Vernam was unlucky not to connect with a diving header after Brown and Khouri had linked up on the left.

Auton had to push the ball around his post for a corner after a 25-yard strike at the other end, before Khouri was inches away from winning the game for the Mariners in the last minute, only to see his low effort from 18 yards bounce back off the post.

That proved to be the last opportunity for either side to find a winner, as the game ended level at 1-1.

The Mariners are next in pre-season action on Saturday, when they travel to Rochdale.

Town (first 60 minutes): Pym, Warren, Tharme (McJannet, 46), Carson, Sweeney, Turi, Green, Brown, Kabia, Gardner, Burns

(last 30 minutes): Auton, Rodgers, McJannet, Carson, Staunton, McEachran, Khouri, Walker, Vernam, Amaluzor, Brown

UTM