Carl Baker made a welcome return from injury and was included in the County starting line-up for this afternoon's pre-season friendly.

The Mariners included three former County stars Nick Colgan, Danny Boshell and Adam Proudlock.

County started the game brightly and almost took the lead after five minutes when Baker found Oli Johnson who curled a shot just wide.

Two minutes later Johnson raced clear down the right and pulled the ball back to Greg Tansey who missed the target from the edge of the box.

The Mariners threatened after 11 minutes when a half-cleared corner was volleyed just wide by Nathan Jarman.

Three minutes later Proudlock saw his far-post header saved by Owain Fon Williams.

County soon regained the upper hand and Paul Linwood came to Grimsby's rescue with a well timed tackle to deny Johnson who had been played clear by Michael Rose.

Johnson had another chance just after the half-hour but delayed his shot which allowed Matt Heywood to deflect for a corner.

The Hatters should have taken the lead on 34 minutes when Matty Mainwaring cut in from the right after playing a neat one-two with James Vincent. From a narrow angle his shot hit the side net when he might have been better pulling the ball back to Johnson.

The first half was tarnished when Paul Turnbull, after a fine game protecting the back four, limped off after a heavy challenge; former County favourite David Poole came onto replace him.

The half finished with Vincent hitting a 20-yarder just over the bar.

The Hatters took the lead eight minutes after the break when Poole finished a fine move involving Johnson and Peter Thompson when he calmly rolled the ball past Colgan.

Two minutes later, though, Matty Mainwaring was stretchered off and taken straight to hospital with what appeared to be a broken leg.

County were denied the clearest of penalties when Linwood grabbed the ball in the box to deny Thompson but the referee waived play on.

The Mariners cam more into the game midway through the half with Nick Hegarty coming close on a couple of occasions.

County, though, deserved their victory and might have doubled their advantage right at the death but Colgan saved Declan Edward's angled drive.

County: Fon Williams (Gerrard); Mullins, Rose, Havern (Halls), Turnbull (Poole), Raynes (Capt), Vincent (Pilkington), Tansey (Roberts), Johnson (Edwards), Baker (Thompson) Mainwaring Griffin).

Attendance: 1,144