Grimsby Town Football Club

GRIMSBY Town began their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 victory over Cleethorpes Town at the Bradley Football Development Centre.

Town boss Paul Hurst opted to play different XIs in each half, using his full squad and several youth team players.

In a largely uneventful first half, new signing Jack Mackreth provided glimpses of his potential with some good runs down the right.

The Mariners also won several corners before the break, although they were unable to make any of them count and the game remained goalless at half-time.

Lenell John-Lewis put Town ahead seven minutes after the interval with a calm finish after Scott Neilson’s through-ball found the striker on the edge of the penalty area.

But their lead was to last only five minutes, as Cleethorpes equalised through Jack Debnam, who sent a well-executed chip into the net from the left side of the box.

Grimsby restored their advantage just after the hour though, as John-Lewis doubled his tally with a deflected shot from inside the area.

And soon afterwards, it was 3-1, when a corner from the right was headed up in the air by a Cleethorpes defender and the ball bounced down into the net.

The Mariners lost Paul Walker 12 minutes from full-time when he committed a foul and the referee ordered him to be substituted.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Bridlington to take on Scarborough Athletic.

Town first half XI: McKeown; Bignot, Humble, Doig, Thomas; Mackreth, Disley, Barnett, Winfarrah; Hannah, Bemrose

Second half XI:Bastock; Walker, Nsiala, Pearson, Appleby; Brown, Venney, Dale, McLaughlin, Neilson; John-Lewis