The Red Devils had to make do with 10 men for almost the entire second half after captain Jay Williams received a straight red card.

After two successive victories, this was Crawley’s first defeat under new head coach Colin Kazim-Richards but they remain four points clear of the bottom two.

Grimsby almost took the lead inside the first minute when the on-rushing Kabia put an angled shot wide.

Defender Rodgers shot just wide for the Mariners before David Artell’s side went ahead midway through the half when Kabia fired across goalkeeper Jacob Chapman after Andy Cook’s assist.

Cook should have doubled the advantage when wastefully putting the ball wide, but Rodgers was on target after 36 minutes with a deflected effort from just inside the area.

Crawley were reduced to 10 men two minutes after the interval when Williams, having initially fouled Clarke Oduor before kicking the ball at him, received a straight red card.

Grimsby almost added a third goal in stoppage time but Darragh Burns’ shot rebounded off a post.