Eltringham frustrated both camps with a number of bizarre and soft decisions, including sending off Darren Oldaker after a harsh second yellow card, which meant the Spireites, who led 2-1, had to play a total of 30 minutes with 10-men, but they managed to hold on.
Both Cook and his first team coach Gary Roberts were booked, as was Mariners boss David Artell, with their frustrations understandable.
“I think the two teams can leave the stadium a bit disappointed at everything else that went on in the game rather than two teams having a good football match,” Cook said.
“It was a great atmosphere but it is disappointing when you end up with so much other stuff going on in a game that probably, in my opinion, didn’t warrant that.
“I am not going to speak about some of the other stuff.”
Grimsby started strongly, creating some good chances, but the Blues led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from James Berry and Dilan Markanday. Charles Vernam curled in from distance for the Mariners after the break but the hosts defended resolutely to claim their first home win of the season.
Cook continued: “I thought it was a really, really good game of football. I thought the intensity of both teams was there. The early exchanges were all Grimsby. We know we are going to settle into games – we have got that quality now.
“Grimsby is a good team, and they can succeed in this division provided they can avoid injuries. Much appreciation for Grimsby. They arrived to play a fun game, but they ended up giving us a lot of trouble instead.
In the last minutes, Chesterfield reorganized into a back three and put their bodies on the line. Their substitutes also had an impact.
Cook continued, “We had so many boys that did so well and defended so well that we had no alternative but to put all of our hands to the pump. It was always going to be a test like that, and Grimsby was testing us all day. Bravo to our boys, we’re more determined this year.
“I believed that Jenson (Metcalfe), Harvey (Araujo), and Devan were all boys.”
“We had a training group this morning of players who weren’t selected and they showed great appetite and desire. As a manager, when you watch that, you know you are going to be alright. That goes through our club at the minute and great credit to all our players, not just the ones who have done well today, but everyone who has been involved in a good week for our football club.”
Chesterfield are ninth in the table after five games and travel to Port Vale next Saturday.
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