Ten-man Grimsby banished their opening-day blues with a comprehensive victory at promoted Macclesfield.
The Mariners - beaten 4-1 at home by Forest Green last weekend - went ahead in the 29th minute when Jordan Cook fired home a stunning strike from 30 yards.
Grimsby should have led moments earlier when Macc were fortunate to survive a frantic goalmouth scramble after Mitch Rose hit the post and Cook's follow-up was blocked by Jamie Grimes.
The Mariners could have been out of sight at the break but a Jared Hodgkiss goal-line clearance and a fine reaction save by Rhys Taylor kept it to just 1-0 at half-time.
The Silkmen's chances were given a boost on 63 minutes, when Rose was dismissed by referee Oliver Langford for a wild challenge on Koby Arthur.
However, despite rallying late on, Macc failed to make their numerical advantage pay and substitute Charles Vernam hit Grimsby's second in the final minute after winning the ball wide and left and advancing into the box before firing home.
The game had to be briefly halted after 71 minutes after a Canadian Goose entered the field.
Report supplied by Press Association
