Honours were even after a tremendous tussle in the early season sunshine which must have taken its toll on the players.
It was a fair result although either side could have won it in the second half as play swung first one way then the other.
But neither side quite had the poise to snatch a winner so it ended 1-1 although there was no shortage of entertainment.
Grimsby could take great encouragement from an improved defensive display as they held out against strong early and late pressure from a vibrant County.
In fact after withstanding early County pressure Grimsby went ahead on 12 minutes with a peach of a goal.
Midfielder Ciaran Toner swung over a well placed free-kick and young defender Ryan Bennett got his head on it to notch his first goal for the Mariners.
Then for a period Grimsby took control and winger Peter Till almost grabbed a second but Grimsby's sense of adventure was to prove their undoing.
County swept straight down field and midfielder Neil MacKenzie beat keeper Phil Barnes with a well placed low drive from 20 yards.
That was the end of the scoring but not the excitement as both sides went close in the second half.
Grimsby first brought on sub Danny North and then Gary Jones as they switched to a 4-4-2, and first North was denied after a great run and then a Jones header drifted wide in added time.
But County had their chances too with a Richard Butcher volley being brilliantly parried by keeper Barnes, and then sub Hector Sam looked set to score but his effort was blocked.
After an early season league game both sides turn their attention to Carling Cup matches against Championship sides with Grimsby facing Burnley and County taking on Coventry.