The Mariners earned a valuable point on the road as they recorded their first draw of the season after a goalless contest with Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Town were looking for a club record sixth league away win in a row as they made the long trip to south Wales but ultimately, had to settle for one point to keep the unbeaten run on their travels going.

Jordan Wright made a superb penalty save from Kyle Hudlin just before the hour to keep the score at 0-0 and Danny Rose went the closest to a breakthrough at the other end, before home substitute Courtney Baker-Richardson missed the target as both sides pushed forward in a thrilling finale.

But the vital goal was not to come, although Town were rewarded for a good away performance with a share of the spoils.

Grimsby head coach David Artell named a starting XI which was unchanged from last week’s victory at AFC Wimbledon, although Curtis Thompson and Jordan Davies both made returns to the bench after featuring in the midweek Bristol Street Motors Trophy tie against Chesterfield.

Jordan Wright began in goal, with Tyrell Warren, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume forming the defence.  George McEachran, Evan Khouri and Kieran Green were the midfielders, as Jason Svanthorsson and Luca Barrington lined up either side of striker Rose.

Joining Thompson and Davies among the substitutes were Lewis Cass, Jayden Luker, Cameron Gardner, Justin Obikwu and Seb Auton, with the 18-year-old goalkeeper fresh from playing in Friday night’s FA Youth Cup victory over Salford City at Blundell Park.

Newport named former Mariners midfielder Bryn Morris in their starting line-up, while Huddersfield Town loanee and former Solihull Moors striker Hudlin would be among the main goal threats as Nelson Jardim’s Exiles looked for a fifth home win of the season.

Warren had to clear an early ball into the Town penalty area for a throw-in, before a foul on Rose gave the visitors a free kick near the halfway line.  Barrington chipped a great delivery into the box for Green but the midfielder’s header dropped just wide.

Newport won the first corner on four minutes but they were unable to turn it into a chance in front of goal, before a sweeping move led to Kieron Evans going down inside the box under a challenge from Hume, although the penalty appeals from the home fans were waved away by the referee.

Town broke and won a corner at the other end, which was headed away, then the offside flag went up against Green after McEachran had won the ball and linked up with Rose to create another opening.

The game was moving from end to end at pace in the early stages and Kieron Evans fired over the bar from 20 yards at the end of the home side’s next attack, with Barrington then caught offside.

Hudlin met a cross from Kieron Evans but could only head through to Wright, then Green shot wide of the near post after McEachran had done well to win the ball in midfield and take it forward.

Wright was called into action for the first time on 23 minutes and he made a good double save to stop a shot from Kieron Evans before denying Bobby Kamwa from the rebound.

A stoppage came for Warren to receive treatment when he stayed down after a good challenge on Kamwa just before the half-hour, with the right-back eventually passed fit to continue.

A foul by McEachran on Hudlin gave the home side a free kick midway inside the Town half but defender Matt Baker was unable to get on the end of Shane McLoughlin’s far-post delivery from the left.

Townsend beat Rose to a ball from Hume on the left at the other end, before Green won a corner on the away right but Hume’s far-post delivery was caught by the keeper.

Town had the ball in the net soon afterwards when Barrington’s left-wing cross was headed back across goal by Green and Svanthorsson helped it on for Rose to tap over the line.  Unfortunately for the Mariners though, the offside flag had already gone up and the goal was ruled out.

Newport were forced into making the first substitution of the afternoon a minute before the break when Kamwa went down with an injury and could not continue.  He was replaced by Michael Spellman.

Five added minutes followed at the end of the half and Svanthorsson won a corner in the second of them when his cross was deflected behind.  Hume’s delivery found Rodgers to flick a header across goal but it was cleared at the far post.

Town stayed on the attack but they were unable to find a breakthrough before the referee blew for half-time, with the game remaining goalless.

SECOND HALF

Luker came on for Svanthorsson before the restart in the Mariners’ first change and the substitute almost made an immediate impact when Rose’s touch gave him a shooting opportunity, although the low strike rolled just wide.

A great chance came at the other end on 52 minutes when a low Spellman cross found its way through to Hudlin but the striker could not make it count, then Wright kept the scores level when he raced off his line to deny Spellman as Newport continued to threaten.

The hosts were on top in the early stages of the second half and Wright did well to get down and hold a low cross from the left.

Soon afterwards, Newport were handed their opportunity to open the scoring from a penalty, as the referee pointed to the spot despite Green appearing to have timed his challenge on Hudlin to perfection to win the ball.  Hudlin stepped up to take it but his kick was brilliantly saved by Wright, with the keeper diving full-length to push the ball away for a corner.

Aaron Wildig was shown the yellow card for a foul on Green and the Newport midfielder picked up a injury in the challenge.  He was replaced by Cameron Antwi.

Green was booked soon afterwards for a foul on Spellman midway inside the away half, although Morris’ free kick hi the Grimsby wall.

A trip on Luker earned a yellow card for Baker on 70 minutes but keeper Townsend was first to Hume’s free kick to punch the ball clear for a throw-in.

Thompson made his return to league action as he replaced McEachran moments later in Town’s second substitution, before a great move from the left led to Hume pulling the ball back for Khouri, whose deflected shot was saved.

Another good chance followed on 76 minutes as Town worked the ball from back to front at pace, with Green eventually playing a low ball from the right for Rose.  The striker was unable to apply a finish though, as his first-time effort went wide.

Baker-Richardson came on in place of Kieron Evans for Newport, before Thompson and the home side’s Kai Whitmore were both booked for their parts in an altercation.

Obikwu replaced Rose in the Town attack with 12 minutes remaining and Davies followed the striker onto the pitch five minutes later, as Green made way.

An Antwi shot was blocked by Thompson amid a spell of Newport pressure, before an offside decision against Obikwu stopped a Town attack as both sides looked for a late winner.

Baker-Richardson could not turn the ball into the net from close range after Antwi squared across the six-yard line and as the game moved into at least eight added minutes, the result was still in the balance.

Rogers became the latest to see the yellow card for a foul as both teams kept pushing forward in search of all three points.

But in the end, neither side could find a crucial breakthrough and as a result, both were forced to settle for a point.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when Colchester United are the visitors to Blundell Park for a 12.30pm kick-off.

Town: Wright, Warren, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume, McEachran (Thompson, 72), Khouri, Green (Davies, 83), Svanthorsson (Luker, 46), Rose (Obikwu, 79), Barrington

Subs not used: Auton, Cass, Gardner