GRIMSBY made an impressive start to the new campaign with a 2-0 win at Morecambe.

While the Shrimps are tipped to struggle again, the general view from Humberside was that it was a opportunity that would have been wasted last season.

There was also the welcome boost of midfielder Elliott Whitehouse scoring the opener having missed the whole of last season with a serious knee injury.

Boss Michael Jolley has recruited well over the summer – with James Hanson providing the attacking presence that they had been lacking.

Hanson’s arrival adds further spice to City’s visit for Grimsby’s opening home game and comes so soon after he was in the Wimbledon side that secured League One safety with a final-day draw at Valley Parade.

The big man was keen to get back nearer to his Yorkshire roots and is enjoying his latest challenge.

Hanson said: “Every footballer, as soon as the season finishes, you look forward to having a couple of weeks rest, but you are straightaway looking forward to the fixtures.

“Thankfully we got off to a good start – and the Bradford game will be a good first home game. It’s probably the dream start for me, depending on the result.”

Jolley is expected to stick with the line-up that triumphed at the Globe Arena as the Mariners look to improve on last season’s 17th-placed finish.

They were never in serious danger of being dragged into the survival battle at the bottom but the campaign petered out disappointingly.

Sights have now been set on the top half – and a possible outside shot at the play-offs.

This is Jolley’s second full season at the Grimsby helm after succeeding Russell Slade in March 2018 and keeping them up.

The Cambridge University graduate had previously managed AFC Eskilstuna in Sweden after three years as Burnley under-23s head coach.