GRIMSBY Town boss Neil Woods said he hopes last night's "abysmal" performance against Stirling Albion will prove a valuable lesson for his players.

After rising in front of a big home crowd to see off League One Sheffield Wednesday at Blundell Park on Saturday, his team were sluggish from the off at the Forthbank Stadium – and were deservedly beaten 2-0.

Woods hopes his words after the final whistle will make clear that such a performance will not be tolerated on their travels at 'smaller' grounds in the forthcoming Blue Square Bet Premier campaign.

He said: "The performance was abysmal. However good we played against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, we were two-times as bad here.

"You cannot get away with only playing well in one game, you have to do it week-in week-out.

"The pace we set from the start was very poor and the scoreline flattered us. They could have been four of five goals up in the first 10 minutes.

"We were never in control and only made fleeting chances.

"Some of the decisions players made with the ball were flabbergasting.

"The players have learnt a very valuable lesson at the right part of the season."

Chris Aitken's early penalty and Nicky Clark's long-range strike 10 minutes from time gave last season's Scottish division two champions a deserved win in front of 297 fans, 38 of which were Mariners supporters.

Woods made six changes from the team which started against the Owls, and he was disappointed his chosen starting-XI failed to rise to the occasion.

He went on: "It's not the end of the world, just as Saturday didn't gain us promotion, but you are always looking to build and improve.

"Yes we changed the team to try and get people playing time but I told the players that they are starting to pick the team for me.

"Instead of staking claims, they are picking the team for me.

"If we've gained anything from this game, it's the knowledge that we have to be in top gear whoever we play against.

"We are not good enough to coast and go through the motions.

"No disrespect to Stirling Albion, they are part-timers and congratulations to them for the effort they put in, but you had one side that fought harder and worked harder.

"We shouldn't go over the top, but it was very disappointing."

Woods revealed Peter Bore was substituted due to a sore hamstring and Lewis Gobern limped off with a sore thigh. Both are likely to miss Saturday's trip to Winterton Rangers.

Kenny Arthur, also absent through a sore thigh, could still feature.