Grimsby Town claimed victory over Harrogate Town for the first time, with Evan Khouri’s first professional goal helping them to a 2-1 Boxing Day victory at home.

The Mariners midfielder got the slightest touch with his head to give his side the lead in the second half, and a goal off the bench from Jason Dadi Svanthorsson was enough to secure victory as the visitors pulled one back late on.

It was a low-quality opening to the game in terms of chance creation, with neither side able to break into the box with the ball and find the opening to shoot. James Daly had the first shot on target in the 12th minute, but it was a routine stop for Jordan Wright as he collected the dipping ball in his arms.

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Jayden Luker went close a couple of minutes later with a deflected effort, which James Belshaw dove towards to see past the post and out for a corner. The subsequent corner was headed into the side netting by Kieran Green.

Harrogate should have gone ahead just over 20 minutes in as Matty Daly was able to weave his way through to the byline inside the Grimsby area and cut the ball back across the six-yard box. Stephen Duke-Mckenna was there to finish off the chance from a short range, but a sliding tackle seemed to put him off as he shot, and he blazed his effort over.

The visitors should have scored there, but Town went just as close soon after, Green smashing the post with a first-time volley as the ball was knocked his way from a deep free-kick.

A well-worked move going from left to right saw Luker presented with another chance to shoot, but his straight effort was a touch too high and wide to concern the Harrogate goalkeeper.

Town had a couple of breakaways from the left for Callum Ainley, but he could not quite sort his feet or pick out the right pass to convert the openings into shots on goal. Both sides had one big chance to score in the first half but did not take it, so the game was scoreless at the break.

Luker had a chance to break through on goal early in the second half, but he overran with the ball, and Belshaw was able to come off his line and sweep up before the former could shoot.

Khouri had been waiting a long time for his first professional goal, and it came with the slightest touch from a Luker crossing that was curling towards the goal with Belshaw rooted the ball bounced into the net.

Substitute Jack Muldoon had a chance to bring the visitors back level as he met a high looping cross from the left flank, but his header back across goal was wide of the mark.

Green should have put Town further in front as he combined with Lewis Cass down Town’s right side to get into the box with the ball. It was a tight angle for the shot, but he was close enough to beat the goalkeeper with power alone, leaning back too much as he blasted over.

Jason Dadi Svanthorsson was brought on to add some more energy off the bench as Town looked to secure the victory. He provided a crucial contribution as he broke through and finished off a slick passing move from the team to double the lead.

It felt as though the Mariners were cruising at that point, with Harrogate unable to craft many chances in the second half, but they did pull one back from a free-kick excellently converted by Duke-Mckenna as the curled the ball into Wright’s top right corner.

There was a penalty box scramble deep into stoppage time, which almost resulted in an equaliser for Harrogate, but Jordan Davies was well-placed on the line to clear away a goalbound effort.

It was a nervy finish, but Town held on for the win and rewarded their supporters with a late festive gift after back-to-back defeats before Christmas.