Grimsby will be happier with the point than us, claims Bromley boss Andy Woodman

Bromley boss Andy Woodman felt Grimsby would be the happier side after their 1-1 draw at Blundell Park.

The League Two leaders continued their long unbeaten run as they emerged from a bruising battle with a share of the spoils for the fifth time in six games.

Bromley were without top scorer Michael Cheek through injury, but Nicke Kabamba stepped up to fire them ahead in the first half before Charles Vernam responded quickly from the penalty spot.

Grimsby’s Jackson Smith and Bromley’s Grant Smith both made important saves after the break as the two teams had to settle for a point.

Woodman said: “It was a fantastic game of football and we knew we had to be on it because Grimsby have been bashing teams up here.

“They started like a house on fire and then we got to grips with it a little bit more.

“The surface wasn’t easy to play on, which probably suits us, but I thought it was a really good advert for the league.

“I think their manager will be happier with the point after two big saves from their goalkeeper at the end, but it’s a good point away from home because plenty of teams will come here and get beaten.

“The penalty was a tricky one that I won’t really talk about, but I thought there were two handballs before it that were missed.

“We seem to be having a lot of setbacks in games, but we battle through it and 18 unbeaten is not something that we can be upset about.”

Frustrated Grimsby boss David Artell did not agree with Woodman’s assessment of who would be happier.

He said: “To get seven points from the week we’ve had is a good return, but in isolation we’re frustrated not to win this game because we’ve had plenty of chances.

“A good week should have been an outstanding week because we’ve done more than enough here against a good side.

“We take the point in the end and it was important we didn’t go on and lose, for which we owe some credit to Jacko (Jackson Smith) for his two big saves near the end.

“That said, their goalkeeper was the man of the match for a reason.

“I thought we limited them, their goal came from a direct ball forward and their two big chances after that were from a free-kick and a corner, but that’s what Bromley do.

“We landed on a lot of second balls and we moved with the game as a team really well, so there is disappointment in not capitalising fully on the performance.”