David Artell admitted to having mixed feelings after his Grimsby side hit back from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Cheltenham.
Harvey Rodgers’ second-half strike cancelled out Ethan Williams’ opener for the home side but, despite controlling much of the second half, the Mariners could not find a second goal to extend their four-match winning streak.
“On one hand I am happy with the point because it’s a tough place to come,” Mariners boss Artell said. “But, bar 15 minutes, we’ve dominated the game and only got a point so we have not continued the winning run, but now we are on an unbeaten run.
“I’m pleased with the application and I thought it was the minimum we deserved.
“I watched Cheltenham on Tuesday night (2-2 draw with Walsall) and they deserved a point at least, so we knew it’d be super competitive and it was.
“We’ve had four big chances in the first half, second half we had one right at the death. We had 40-odd touches in their box and only scored once, but it’s the fifth hardest place to come in the league and you can see why.
“Michael (Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn) knows how to set up a League Two team without a shadow of a doubt and they are super competitive, so you have to give them credit for sticking in there and making sure we didn’t three points.”
Cheltenham have been formidable at home and they were awarded a penalty in the 26th minute after a handball by Rodgers following a free-kick delivery from Williams.
George Miller stepped up, but Mariners keeper Jordan Wright flew to his left and pushed it away.
Cheltenham then took the lead less than two minutes later when Val Adedokun fed Manchester United loan prospect Williams, who finished low inside the right post from near the edge of the box for his second goal for the club.
However, Grimsby deservedly levelled when Jason Dadi Svanthorsson reached the byline and crossed for Rodgers to slam in from close range after 53 minutes.
Despite late pressure, Grimsby failed to seriously test home goalkeeper Joe Day as it finished all-square.
Robins boss Michael Flynn admitted his team were below par after their midweek comeback against leaders Walsall.
“I’d say it was a fair result, but Grimsby were the better team in the second half, without Joe really having a save to make,” he said.
“They looked fresh after a free week and we just didn’t get going at all.
“Give Grimsby a bit of credit because they kept putting the pressure on us, but we stood tall.
“The pleasing thing is we didn’t concede a set play today, and they were very good at them.”
