Cameron Gardner’s late equaliser earned Grimsby Town a draw with League One Rotherham United in their latest pre-season friendly.

The Mariners matched their higher-division opponents as football returned to Blundell Park for the first time this summer and they took an early lead through Harvey Rodgers’ second-minute volley.

Jonson Clarke-Harris equalised for Rotherham and went on to add a second from the penalty spot after the break but Town had the final say with Gardner’s close-range finish.

Jordan Wright started in goal for Town, behind a defence of Lewis Cass, Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Matty Carson. Evan Khouri, George McEachran, Kieran Green and Charles Vernam were the midfielders, with Gardner supporting Donovan Wilson in attack.

Jake Eastwood, Tyrell Warren, Denver Hume, Callum Ainley, Harvey Cribb, Henry Brown, Charlie Clements and Grayson Giles were all named as substitutes.

Rotherham’s previous friendly saw them narrowly lose to Sheffield United on Saturday, although that defeat was the first in six pre-season outings so far for Steve Evans’ side.

Former Peterborough United striker Clarke-Harris led the line for the Millers and was one of several summer signings on display for the South Yorkshire side following relegation from the Championship last season.

An early free kick from Alex Macdonald was cleared, before Vernam saw a shot deflected into the side-netting after good play by Green on the left. From the resulting corner, the Mariners took the lead as the ball was flicked into the path of RODGERS at the far post and he sent a low volley past keeper Cameron Dawson.

Wright comfortably caught a corner from the right as the visitors looked to respond but Dawson was then called into action at the other end, racing out of his penalty area to beat Wilson to a ball over the top and head clear.

After falling behind to Rodgers’ early goal, the away side had played their way into the game and they drew level on 13 minutes when a Joe Hungbo corner from the right was met by CLARKE-Harris, who flicked a near-post header past Wright.

Rotherham boss Evans was shown the yellow card for dissent after his side were awarded a free kick near the halfway line, before Wilson was beaten to a right-wing cross from Green as Town went forward on 23 minutes.

Hakeem Odoffin volleyed wide for the away side soon afterwards, then the centre-back was in place at the other end to head a Green cross away.

McJannet made a good block to deny Liam Kelly after the midfielder had received the ball from a Rotherham trialist near the edge of the box, then the trialist went on to miss the target from close range after a flick-on by Clarke-Harris.

Two added minutes were played at the end of the first half and with no further chances coming for either team, the scores remined level at the interval.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and a foul on McEachran gave the hosts an early free kick in a central position. Carson’s shot from it was caught by Dawson.

Cass did well to force Hungbo wide and stop a dangerous-looking attack from developing, although the next time the winger attacked on the left, he cut inside and was brought down inside the box by Cass. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Clarke-Harris stepped up to put Rotherham ahead.

Town were given an almost instant opportunity to respond with a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, after Macdonald was booked for a handball. The set piece was worked to Carson but his powerful strike was well-saved by Dawson.

A mistake at the back at the other end on 62 minutes gave Kelly a shooting opportunity, although Wright recovered well to make an excellent block and ensure the only damage was a corner.

A Carson corner for Town was flicked all the way across goal and out for a goal kick and that proved to be the signal for both sides to make changes, with Ainley replacing Green in the black and white of the Mariners and Rotherham sending four substitutes on.

Carson went down with an injury on 73 minutes and was replaced by Hume, before Warren came on for Wilson in the home side’s third change and Brown followed him onto the pitch in place of Vernam soon afterwards. The visitors also made several more changes.

Rodgers was booked for a foul but Rotherham were unable to capitalise from the resulting free kick.

Town were then given an opportunity to attack at the other end when McEachran was fouled and this time, it was a chance they took as Hume’s free kick to the far post was sent back across goal for GARDNER to finish from close range, with 87 minutes on the clock.

Two added minutes were played at the end of the game but neither side could find a winner and the game ended level, with the Mariners claiming a deserved draw.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they host Mansfield Town at Blundell Park in their final friendly before the start of the new Sky Bet League Two season on August 10.

Town: Wright, Cass, Carson (Hume, 73), Green (Ainley, 65), Rodgers, Vernam (Brown, 77), McJannet, McEachran, Gardner, Wilson (Warren, 75), Khouri