Ciaran Cam

NCM ran the exclusive that Notts boss Steve Thompson would be signing the former Lincoln City man earlier in the week and our story has since been picked up by BBC Radio Nottingham and the Nottingham Evening Post.

Toner figured as the left winger in a 4-4-2 formation as the Mariners gave little in the way of an attacking threat.

The former Irish under-21 star was better - alike with his side - in the first half and involved himself to good effect.

Pipe... Marked future colleague well

Despite his preferred position being as an attacking midfielder, or failing that on the right side of midfield, Toner adapted to an unnatural position comfortably.

He looked clever on the ball and perhaps a step ahead of some of his team mates with some good crosses not being latched onto by the Mariners' inept frontline.

He showed some good footwork down the left hand side to beat David Pipe, before the Notts man won it back, but Toner continued to try his skills and released several threatening passes.

Charged with being Grimsby's chief set-piece taker, though Tom Newey eventually shared the duties, Toner had a clever delivery from dead balls, where he could get good power and accuracy, allied with a swerve, to test the Notts defence.

Toner didn't appear the most vocal player, or a player likely to become aggressive on the pitch, preferring to try and let his feet do the talking.

You could sense that although he wasn't at his most productive, the away following sensed something everytime he got the ball, and he is certainly a player who will make things happen by committing the defence, though Notts' backline largely held strong against him on this occasion.

Gary Jones with Toner (right)... the pair didn't link this time

As Notts upped the tempo somewhat in the second period, Toner didn't exert himself on the game, though one exceptional curling cross from a free-kick in the second half nearly helped the visitors to an equaliser, but Kevin Pilkington grabbed well.

He was eventually substituted and received a pat on the back from his current manager Alan Buckley - who he is said to have an uncomfortable relationship with - before heading onto the pitch to shake hands with perhaps his future team mates at the end of the game.

Toner shared an embrace with former Grimsby mate Andy Parkinson, though Thompson seemed to turn away from him as he congratulated his own side.

NCM rating: 7