Crawley were given a sobering re-introduction to League Two as Grimsby ran out resounding 3-0 victors at Blundell Park.
A debut penalty strike from Jaze Kabia, a header from Cameron McJannet and a piledriver from Evan Khouri gave Grimsby a convincing opening-day victory.
Kabia stepped up on debut after Kieran Green was fouled by Crawley goalkeeper Harvey Davies in the box just nine minutes in, and the former converted for the dream start to his Grimsby career.
The Mariners deserved their second goal 30 minutes in, this time provided by their centre-back McJannet, who powered in a header from a Charles Vernam cross.
Kabia hit the crossbar in first-half stoppage time, which might have put the game out of sight at that moment, but the result was wrapped up soon after the break.
Khouri was in on the act for the hosts in the 64th minute, firing low and hard into the bottom right corner of the net from the edge of the box after a few blocked shots.
