The Mariners stepped up their preparations for the new season with a 3-0 victory over National League Hartlepool United at Victoria Park.
Justin Amaluzor gave Town a half-time lead and after Andy Cook doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half, Amaluzor’s second goal of the afternoon made sure of a first win of the summer.
After draws with Cleethorpes Town and FC Zorya Luhansk in their first two pre-season friendlies, David Artell’s men faced a tough test in breezy conditions in the north-east against a Pools side who would be aiming to mount a promotion challenge from the fifth tier following a ninth-placed finish last term.
Several changes were made around the hour mark as Artell gave game time to as many of his squad as possible but despite some spells of Hartlepool pressure, Town defended well to cap a good performance with a clean sheet.
The Mariners started with Christy Pym in goal as Joe Foulkes, Edon Pruti, Maldini Kacurri and Jayden Sweeney formed the defence. Kristian Catchpole sat behind Amaluzor, Kieran Green, Henry Brown and Charles Vernam in midfield, while Cook led the attack.
Seb Auton, Harvey Rodgers, Charlie Elliott, Jamie Walker, Geza Turi, Lennon Peterson, Elliot Smith, Tyler Pratt, Jaze Kabia and Cameron McJannet were all named as substitutes.
Hartlepool were playing their fifth friendly of the summer and their first at home, having recorded away victories over Seaton Carew, Redcar Athletic, Spennymoor Town and Hebburn Town so far.
Head coach Lee Clark named former Mariners loanees Neo Eccleston and Liam Gibson in his starting XI, while England U20 international goalkeeper Max Merrick featured for the first time after joining the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
FIRST HALF
Foulkes made a great interception to deal with a cross from Eccleston as the hosts were the first to attack, then Catchpole stopped a run from midfield by Brooklyn Ilunga.
Town won the first corner eight minutes in after Cook linked up with Vernam, although it was eventually dealt with as Jack Nolan brought the ball clear. He broke deep into the Grimsby half before finding Ilunga, whose shot was well-blocked by Green.
Amaluzor missed the target with a cross-shot from the right, before Catchpole and Foulkes both stopped attacks from the home left.
The Mariners broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, as Sweeney ran through the middle before playing a through-ball for AMALUZOR to confidently fire low past Merrick from the edge of the box.
Hartlepool’s response was good and Kacurri had to concede a corner after a mistake in midfield by Green, although Brown headed the flag-kick clear at the near post.
Pym was called into action for the first time on 26 minutes to keep out a 20-yard drive from Jamie Miley after Ilunga worked his way into the box from the left and pulled the ball back.
A great challenge by Reiss McNally then stopped Cook from getting on the end of a cross from Green on the right and instead, got the ball away for a corner. Vernam’s delivery was caught by Merrick.
Turi replaced Brown on 30 minutes in a pre-planned substitution as Town made the first change of the afternoon.
A foul on Catchpole gave the Mariners a free kick inside the Hartlepool half after the hosts failed to capitalise on a short back-pass from Foulkes at the other end, although Merrick came off his line to confidently claim Turi’s ball into the box.
The hosts then had a free kick of their own when Pruti brought Jack Nolan down on the right. Nolan’s delivery found Jordan Hugill but the offside flag went up against the striker.
Kacurri showed good strength to win a duel with Will Harris as the home side looked for an equaliser before the break, then Foulkes earned a Town corner on the right but Cook could only head Sweeney’s delivery down for Merrick to claim.
That proved to be the last opportunity of the half, with the Mariners going in one goal ahead at the interval.
SECOND HALF
Auton took over from Pym in goal and Rodgers replaced Foulkes in the only further changes to the Town XI ahead of the restart.
The keeper’s first task was to catch a Gibson header after the hosts were awarded a free kick midway inside the Grimsby half.
Moments later, the Mariners doubled their advantage as Green played the ball to COOK and he beat Merrick with an emphatic finish from a narrow angle on the right.
Corey McKeown, one of two substitutes to come on at half-time for the hosts, was narrowly off-target at the other end, before Town made it 3-0 six minutes in. AMALUZOR was the man on-target for his second goal of the game, sending a looping header beyond Merrick and into the far corner of the net.
Auton dived to make a good save from McKeown after a mistake in defence, before a driven cross from Rodgers was blocked for a corner at the other end. Merrick pushed Sweeney’s delivery around his post for another one, which was cleared.
Chris Popov replaced Hugill in the Hartlepool attack just before the hour, then good covering by Kacurri ensured the visitors’ clean sheet remained intact.
Town made wholesale changes soon afterwards, with Elliott, Pratt, Kabia, McJannet, Peterson, Smith and Walker all coming on as Pruti, Kacurri, Sweeney, Green, Vernam, Cook and Amaluzor made way.
Brown then rejoined the action with 23 minutes to go as he came on in place of Catchpole, before Eccleston made way for Luke Charman in the blue and white of Hartlepool.
A foul by McJannet gave the home side a free kick on their right but they were unable to make it count as Auton claimed a catch when Ilunga’s delivery was headed back across goal by McNally.
McJannet blocked a cross from Popov for a corner on 77 minutes as the home pressure continued to build but Kabia was in place to head the ball from the flag clear.
Charman tried his luck from 25 yards with a shot which was straight at Auton, before a stoppage came for Kabia to receive treatment. The striker was passed fit to play on.
Rodgers sent a deflected strike through to the keeper after good play by Walker as Town looked for a fourth goal in the closing stages of the game.
But in the end, they were forced to settle for three as they closed out the remainder of the contest to seal a first victory of pre-season.
The Mariners now return to home turf for the first time this summer as they host Lincoln City at Blundell Park in their latest friendly on Tuesday.
Town: Pym, Foulkes, Pruti, Kacurri, Sweeney, Catchpole, Amaluzor, Green, Brown, Vernam, Cook
Subs (all used): Auton, Rodgers, Elliott, Walker, Turi, Peterson, Smith, Pratt, Kabia, McJannet
UTM
