YORK City defenders Josh Robinson and Ben Barber both picked up injuries during a 3-1 reserve defeat at Grimsby.

Centre-half Robinson limped gingerly out of the action on 20 minutes with a foot/ankle problem, while left-back Barber was substituted early in the second half holding his hamstring.

Callum Rzonca had earlier fired the Minstermen in front, but his strike was cancelled out by Kayden Jackson, Josh Venney and Cameron Hough efforts.

The visitors’ side was managed by youth-team chief Steve Torpey, with departing manager Jackie McNamara and chairman Jason McGill bith watching on from the stands and included nine players with first-team experience this term.

Summer singing Franklyn Clarke, who has not featured in the National League yet due to suspension and a bout of laryngitis, also featured.

Six of Grimsby’s starting XI, meanwhile, had turned out for the League Two’s senior side this season, with ex-City defenders Chris Doig and Andy McMillan in charge of their team.

It was Rzonca, though, who opened the scoring on 14 minutes following a sweeping move by the visitors.

Winger Kaine Felix sprinted down the left flank after exchanging passes with Scott Fenwick and his low cross to the far post was steered into the roof of the net by Rzonca from a tight angle.

The Minstermen lost Robinson moments later, but Rzonca and Fenwick both went on to call Mariners keeper Oakley Heath-Drury into action before Jombo Larinwa missed the target with the hosts’ first chance on 24 minutes.

Craig Disley could also only find Luke Simpson’s midriff after being sent clear on goal whilst, at the other end, Felix forced a near-post save, Clarke’s long-range attempt was deflected over and Ben Clappison went close with a rising half-volley.

The North Lincolnshire outfit drew level, though, on 40 minutes when former Wrexham striker Jackson cut in from the left and fired firmly past Simpson from 15 yards.

Sean McAllister then somehow contrived to clear the crossbar from four yards in front of an open goal following Scott Vernon’s square pass.

After the break, Barber pulled up with City reshuffling and switching Clarke from midfield into the centre of defence.

Jackson continued to look a threat and drove just off target from the edge of the box before Vernon played Venney in and he found Simpson’s bottom-right corner from ten yards on 62 minutes.

Grimsby should have then had a third but Jackson rattled the bar with only Simpson to beat from eight yards.

Vernon also shot past an advancing Simpson, but saw the ball trickle inches wide, while Jackson’s inventive lob brushed the top of the netting.

For City, Fenwick fired on to the roof of the stand from the edge of the penalty area and Felix did the same after bursting through the right channel.

But the Mariners made it 3-1 on 77 minutes when Hough’s downward header from Venney’s corner bounced past Simpson, who also denied Declan Slater late on with a fine save, while Aaron Brettel made two excellent late blocks to thwart the opposition.  

City: Simpson, Kemp, Robinson (Brettel, 20), Clappison, Barber (Haswell, 52), Clarke, Walton, Rzonca, Johnson (Kennedy, 65), Felix, Fenwick.