Gills leave Blundell Park empty handed as Grimsby take the points in a 2-0 win.
Two first half Grimsby goals condemned Gillingham to a 2-0 defeat at Blundell Park.
Neil Harris made five changes from the side that was narrowly beaten by Luton Town in the Carabao Cup. Jake Turner, Scott Malone, Shaun Williams, Connor Mahoney and Tom Nichols came into the starting XI.
After making his professional debut on Tuesday, Ronald Sithole was named among the substitutes for the first time in the league.
Niall Maher headed Grimsby Town into the lead in the 12th minute. Arthur Gnahoua floated a corner from the left towards the near post, and Maher ran onto it, heading the ball towards the far corner of the goal.
Harry Clifton had a half-chance in the 18th minute when a Grimsby corner was aimed towards the forward. Clifton struck it on the half-volley but cleared the crossbar with his effort.
Ashley Nadesan had a big opportunity moments later. Malone’s ball from the left found Nadesan inside the penalty area. The striker was unmarked but failed to make the right contact and his effort went out for a goal kick.
Gills had another great chance to get a shot at goal in the 25th minute. Mahoney sent the ball down the right for Nadesan to chase. The striker got beyond the Grimsby defence, getting on the end of the pass before spotting the oncoming run of Nichols. He cut the ball back for the forward, who could not set himself to shoot, and a Grimsby defender did well to dispossess Nichols.
Gavan Holohan made it two for the hosts in the 27th minute. Danny Rose won possession inside the Gillingham half before finding Abobaker Eisa on the edge of the penalty area. The Grimsby winger waited for the overlapping run of Holohan to his left before squaring the ball to the midfielder, who slotted it underneath the oncoming Jake Turner.
The Gills were forced into a substitution in the 44th minute when Nichols went down with an apparent knock. He could not continue and was replaced by Macauley Bonne.
HALF-TIME: Grimsby Town 2-0 Gillingham
Gills made two changes at the break when Cheye Alexander and Conor Masterson replaced Shaun Williams and Shad Ogie respectively. Robbie McKenzie moved into the midfield role that Shaun Williams was occupying.
In the 49th minute, Turner made a huge save, denying Clifton from just inside the penalty area. Clifton did well getting into a shooting position before directing a low-driven shot towards the far corner. Turner had to get down at full stretch to push the ball behind the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
Turner had to be quick to deny Eisa in the 73rd minute. The Grimsby wideman did well getting beyond a defender down the left side of the box before blasting a shot towards the near post. Turner got two solid hands on the ball to palm it away before Gillingham cleared the second ball.
Malone was denied by Jake Eastwood in the 87th minute. Jonny Williams played a smart ball down the right for Bonne to latch onto. The striker then floated a cross deep into the penalty area, where Malone headed down towards the goal. It bounced just in front of Eastwood, who managed to palm it away.
FULL-TIME: Grimsby Town 2-0 Gillingham
Grimsby Town: Eastwood, Mullarkey, Rodgers, Maher, Amos, Holohan (Andrews 89’), Conteh, Gnahoua (Pyke 89’), Clifton, Eisa, Rose
Unused Substitutes: Cartwright, Efete, Waterfall, Hunt, Khouri
Gillingham: Morris, McKenzie, Ehmer, Ogie (Masterson 46’), Malone, S. Williams (Alexander 46’), Dieng, Mahoney, Clarke (J. Williams 69’), Nichols (Bonne 44’), Nadesan
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Clark, Sithole
Attendance: 6479
Referee: Adam Herczeg