League Two leaders, Bromley extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches with a 1-1 draw at Grimsby.
Nicke Kabamba fired Bromley into a 28th-minute lead from a sloppy defensive clearance of Omar Sowunmi’s long ball.
Charles Vernam however netted a 31st-minute equaliser from the spot after Jude Arthurs unintentionally handballed George McEachran’s shot.
Bromley remained top of League Two with their lead extended to six points, whilst Grimsby slipped to ninth after Salford defeated Barnet 2-0 in the other lunchtime kick-off.
Although unbeaten in 17 matches prior to kick-off, Bromley arrived at Blundell Park off the back of one win in their last five matches and quickly had to ride their luck as Grant Smith saved McEachran’s shot barely 15 seconds into the match.
Vernam then saw his third-minute shot cleared off the line by Bromley’s Carl Jenkinson before Kieran Green’s shot a minute later flew wide, as Grimsby continued to apply early pressure.
Bromley soon settled but struggled to make much impact upon Grimsby’s Jackson Smith until Ashley Charles met a knockdown header in the 17th minute, from which he fired wide on the volley.
Corey Whitely then fired a 26th-minute volley into the Grimsby goalkeeper’s arms, but Sowunmi’s long ball two minutes later was poorly cleared by ex Bromley loanee – Maldini Kacurri for Kabamba to smash in from close range to put the Ravens in front.
Their lead however proved short-lived as McEachran;’s 30th-minute shot struck Arthurs’ left arm, which led referee – Seb Stockbridge to award a penalty, which Vernam duly dispatched down the middle before he was substituted for Jaze Kabia moments after he restored parity.
Bromley almost restored their lead from a 37th-minute cross by Ben Krauhaus but Arthurs nodded his header just over the bar, as Grimsby kept the score level at the break.
David Artell’s Mariners proceeded to initially dominate the second half during which Grant Smith had to make a 52nd-minute block to deny Green, after the latter intercepted Carl Jenkinson’s backpass.
Pinnock put Bromley’s first second-half shot wide from a 55th-minute offside position only to be clattered into by Kacurri, which sparked a brief melee in which Stockbridge took a neutral stance to the situation which soon diffused itself.
Grimsby continued to press for the winner as Grant Smith twice denied Kabia in the 68th minute, whilst McEachran saw his own opportunities saved by the Bromley goalkeeper.
Their missed opportunities almost came to haunt them in the 76th minute as a corner was cleared to Charles, who teed up a low cross towards Kabamba but the forward fumbled his touch just yards from goal.
Bromley again nearly punished Grimsby with a 83rd-minute free-kick which Pinnock curled towards the top-right corner, yet Jackson Smith made a crucial punch to deny the Ravens a second goal.
Smith then was alert in the third minute of injury time to clear Sowunmi’s header on the line as Grimsby dug deep to grind out the draw.
What’s Next?
Grimsby continue their play-off push with a trip to Oldham on Saturday 14 March at 3pm GMT.
Bromley meanwhile host Bristol Rovers at the Copperjax Stadium on the same date at that time, as Woodman’s Ravens continue their promotion push.
Teams
Grimsby: Jackson Smith, Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet, Reece Staunton, Geza Turi (Walker 77′), Darragh Burns (Sellars-Fleming 85′), Kieran Green, George McEachran, Charles Vernam (Kabia 32′), Andy Cook (Soonsup-Bell 85′)
Substitutes: Seb Auton, Jaze Kabia, Tyrell Sellars-Fleming, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Jayden Sweeney, Jamie Walker, Tyrell Warren
Bromley: Grant Smith, Carl Jenkinson (Ifill 61′), Jesse Debrah, Omar Sowunmi, Idris Odutayo, Ashley Charles, Corey Whitely (Ilunga 61′), Ben Krauhaus, Jude Arthurs (Hondermarck 62′), Mitch Pinnock, Nicke Kabamba
Substitutes: Marcus Dinanga, Will Hondermarck, Marcus Ifill, Brooklyn Ilunga, Sam Long, Zech Medley, Ben Thompson
Referee – Seb Stockbridge
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