SCOTT Neilson's fine solo goal wasn't enough for Grimsby Town last night as the Mariners' unbeaten pre-season record came to an end at Causeway Lane.
Paul Hurst shuffled his pack again for the fourth friendly, with Craig Disley returning from a tight hamstring and new signing Carl Magnay making his first start.
Striker Ross Hannah recovered from his jaw injury sustained at Harrogate, while trialists Craig Clay and Joe Ironside had another chance to make an impression.
It took six minutes for the visitors to make the first clear-cut chance, as Disley's looping cross from the right was met by Clay in the middle – his header being tipped over by home stopper Jon Kennedy.
Ironside got in on the act seconds later, glancing another high centre wide.
But the forward should certainly have put the Mariners in front on ten minutes, sprinting clean through on goal before seeing his toe-poke blocked by Kennedy.
The hosts had started slowly – that was until Adam Yates tested James McKeown with a powerful strike 20 minutes in.
PICTURES: Grimsby Town at Matlock
Ironside had a pop from distance four minutes later, but it was the Gladiators who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as Ben Hutchinson bent a sumptuous right-footer over and beyond McKeown from the edge of the box.
Home captain Liam Needham saw a 25-yarder tipped over as the Northern Premier League line-up went in search of a second.
Hurst was experimenting with his system, with Neilson playing behind the strikers in what appeared to be a 4-3-1-2 formation.
And it was the tricky attacker who drew things level in the 31st minute when he battled past the last defender, rounded Kennedy and tapped home.
Scott Brown almost bundled his way through the home defence as half-time approached, before Disley nodded Paul Bignot's cross a foot wide of the post.
But a far better chance arrived two minutes before the break when Brown's excellent pass found Ironside in space in the box. The frontman only had to poke the ball past Kennedy, but couldn't get a clean contact and the chance was gone.
There was a slow start to the second half with only Magnay's header into Kennedy's midrift, following a corner, of note.
Worringly, Disley then limped out of the action after a challenge with Matlock left-back Phil Roe – to be replaced by Jack Mackreth.
Paddy McLaughlin had come on for Brown at half-time, and six more changes were made in one go just after the hour, sending the PA announcer into a spin!
Lenell John-Lewis was among the new arrivals, and almost touched home Aswad Thomas' fine cross from the left.
But it was the Gladiators who netted next – Leon Osborne finishing at the second attempt from Jason Stokes' low cross, 19 minutes from time.
The professionals responded and Shaun Pearson headed a corner wide, but in truth the Mariners never seriously threatened the home goal in the closing stages and will be hoping for better against the Football League boys next week.
MARINERS: McKeown (Bastock 86), Bignot (Walker 62), Winfarrah (Pearson 62), Magnay (Humble 62), Doig (Nsiala 62), Brown (McLaughlin 45), Disley (Mackreth 57), Clay, Neilson, Hannah (Thomas 62), Ironside (John-Lewis 62).
