The boos that rang out around Blundell Park at the final whistle served to highlight the displeasure of the majority of those present after witnessing Boreham Wood's goalless draw with Grimsby Ttown.

The Town faithful had expected more, their frustrations exacerbated by a hardworking Wood outfit who again looked competent in their bid for survival.

Speaking afterwards, Wood boss Luke Garrard said: “I am very pleased with the response we showed today. We made changes and those players that came in duly delivered.

“Joe Devera has been waiting patiently for his chance and his professionalism matched his performance today.

“Sam Cox has come back in and was outstanding running about putting out fires for us. Then there was Luke Howell who played an important role for us today and was unlucky not to score.

“I feel the balance was right today and we can go to Braintree Town on Tuesday with our tails up in our quest for survival.”

There were casualties from the poor showing in the previous round of matches and Garrard made three changes.

Ben Nunn and Clovis Kamdjo made way for Joe Devera and Sam Cox with Luke Howell replacing Delano Sam-Yorke in a tactical change.

Meanwhile, Paul Hurst preferred Jon-Paul Pittman to Omar Bogle up front for the Mariners.

A strong wind blowing straight off the North Sea down the Humber Estuary favoured Wood in the first half.

An early long-range effort from Conor Clifford was followed by a sharp strike from Howell which James McKeown gathered cleanly at the second attempt.

With 14 minutes played Town threatened through Pittman. He skipped a couple of challenges cutting in from the goal-line and, with James Russell out of position, he picked out Nathan Arnold whose goal-bound strike was blocked by the legs of the keeper.

Grimsby were stretched when Anthony Jeffrey danced past Richard Tait and Aristote Nsiala before cutting in from the left to shoot at the legs of McKeown at the near post. He pounced upon the rebound forcing another save from the Mariners keeper.

The hosts' main goal threat came from a rising corner count. But Wood's central defensive pair of Scott Doe and David Stephens dealt with that on a regular basis.

Pittman did manage a downward header from one such delivery after 36 minutes, but it failed to trouble Russell.

Arnold forced Russell to punch clear from under the crossbar before shooting wide from open play.

The Mariners found the prevailing wind just as unhelpful as Wood after the interval, trying without success to coordinate extra pace with the elements. Doe and Stephens remained focused with scoring chances rare.

The impressive Howell interrupted a spell of fruitless football with a darting run through the inside left channel only to shoot just over the bar for Wood.

Bogle saw his turn and shot suffer the same fate at the other end before Grimsby desperately tried to appease their fans.

A low drive from Jon Nolan needed a smart push away from Russell, diving low to his right, to keep it out. His second save, point blank from Bogle’s follow up effort, was even more impressive. Though the assistant referee had prematurely come to the rescue.

Four minutes of time added on failed to silence the boo boys – who maybe could have given Wood a little more credit for their efforts on the afternoon.

A point leaves Garrard’s side 21st in the National League – a point and a place from safety.

Boreham Wood: Russell; Devera, Doe, Stephens, Woodard; Shakes, C.Clifford, Cox, Howell, Jeffrey (Kamdjo 90); Lucas (Sam-Yorke 70).

Subs: White (GK), Nunn, B.Clifford.