A Danny Rose penalty ensured the Mariners celebrated Blundell Park’s 125th anniversary with a home victory over Bromley.

Town made a fast start against the newly-promoted Ravens but were unable to take any of their early chances and the visitors were allowed to come into the game.

Neither side could find a goal before half-time but the vital breakthrough came six minutes into the second half as Rose converted from the spot after Kieran Green was brought down.

Bromley made changes in a bid to get themselves level and Town were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Green was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But the home side held firm under pressure to see the game out and secure a hard-earned win.

The Grimsby starting XI was unchanged following last week’s home defeat by Barrow, with goalkeeper Jake Eastwood behind a defence of Tyrell Warren, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume. George McEachran, Evan Khouri and Green were the midfielders, with Jason Svanthorsson and Charles Vernam either side of striker Rose.

The substitutes were Jordan Wright, Lewis Cass, Luca Barrington, Callum Ainley, Cameron Gardner, Doug Tharme and Donovan Wilson.

Bromley arrived in Cleethorpes looking to build on a solid start to life in Sky Bet League Two, having won two and drawn one of their first six games following promotion from the National League last season.

Manager Andy Woodman would look to prolific striker Michael Cheek to fire his side towards another positive result.

Rose sent a snap-shot through to away goalkeeper Grant Smith from 25 yards as Town were first to attack, then Svanthorsson was denied after a break from Vernam.

A Hume corner from the right was then headed clear by Cheek as the home side’s purposeful start continued, before Svanthorsson got back to halt Bromley’s first attack.

Danny Imray won the visitors’ first corner on their right with nine minutes on the clock but it was headed clear by Warren. Bromley retained possession and Idris Odutayo eventually volleyed over the bar from 25 yards.

Rodgers blocked a strike from Cheek as the away side continued to work their way into the game, before Warren had to concede a corner to cut out a low cross from Cameron Congreve. The delivery from the flag was dealt with by the Town defence.

Vernam curled a shot wide of the far post after Khouri showed good strength to hold the ball up on the edge of the penalty area, then Town won a corner on the right after the referee played an advantage, although Hume’s ball from the flag went through to Smith.

Another corner came at the end of a superb attacking move as Khouri’s low pull-back was blocked, with Ben Thompson clearing Vernam’s flag-kick.

The Mariners were forced into the first substitution on 29 minutes after Vernam went down with an injury. He was replaced by Barrington.

Odutayo was shown the first yellow card of the game for delaying a Town free kick, before Eastwood made his first save of the afternoon when he pushed a Besart Topalloj volley away from goal.

Green was then unable to generate enough power on a header at the other end to trouble Smith after Rose had won the ball in midfield and turned to start the attack.

Green was booked on 38 minutes for a trip but the free kick from just inside the Town half was confidently claimed by Eastwood, then Khouri headed another Congreve free kick away at the edge of the box.

After a fast-paced start to the game, the tempo had dropped noticeably with half-time looming as Town struggled to break down a disciplined Bromley defence.

They were given a promising position when Congreve brought Khouri down near the left edge of the box, although McEachran and Svanthorsson both saw shots blocked following Hume’s chipped free kick.

Two added minutes were played at the end of the first half and with no further chances for either side, the deadlock remained in place at the interval.

SECOND HALF

No further changes were made before the restart and Eastwood had to be quick off his line to get to the ball ahead of Corey Whitely after good play by Cheek.

Town were then given their opportunity to open the scoring as Green was bundled over inside the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Rose stepped up to give he hosts the lead.
Bromley responded with a double-substitution, sending Lewis Leigh and Marcus Dinanga on for Jude Arthurs and Congreve.

Leigh’s first involvement was to take a corner from the right but his driven delivery was dealt with.

A better opportunity followed for the visitors, as Dinanga’s header from a right-wing cross was blocked and the ball fell into the path of Cheek, who could only head over the bar from six yards.

Rose almost got on the end of a long kick from Eastwood, then Khouri fired over the bar from 20 yards after being found by Svanthorsson as the Mariners looked for a second goal.

Cheek won a corner at the other end when his low pull-back was blocked before it could reach Dinanga, although Leigh’s flag-kick was cleared by Warren at the near post.

A foul by Rose gave Bromley a free kick midway inside the Town half but they were unable to capitalise on it as the home defence held firm.

More changes for the visitors saw Levi Amantchi replace Odutayo as Omar Sowunmi came on for Topalloj with 15 minutes to go and a foul on Thompson soon afterwards gave them a free kick in a dangerous position, 25 yards out. Leigh’s shot from it hit the Town wall.

Another set-piece opportunity followed moments later, this time on the right, after Svanthorsson was booked for a foul. It was played into the box but Cheek’s header was straight at Eastwood.

Cheek sent a cushioned volley just wide of the far post as Bromley continued to come forward, before Warren went down with an injury and was replaced by Cass.

Rose headed wide from a Hume free kick, then another potential turning point came when Green was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Amantchi, leaving the hosts with 10 men for the final five minutes.

Tharme replaced Svanthorsson to add defensive cover, then the latest yellow card was shown to McEachran after a foul inside his own half.

The fourth official signalled for a minimum of seven added minutes, setting up a nervy ending to the contest with Town aiming to hold on in the face of Bromley pressure.

The away side were inches away from an equaliser in the fifth of the added minutes as a header from Cheek bounced back off the bar but Town came out on top in the resulting scramble to get the ball clear.

That proved to be Bromley’s final opportunity to force a draw as the Mariners closed out the remaining time to collect all three points.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they make the long trip to face Carlisle United.

Town: Eastwood, Warren (Cass, 82), Rodgers, McJannet, Hume, McEachran, Khouri, Green, Svanthorsson (Tharme, 85), Rose, Vernam (Barrington, 29)
Subs not used: Wright, Ainley, Gardner, Wilson

Attendance bought to you by Elegant Beds: 6,115