Jim Gannon was forced to make one change from the eleven that have recorded back-to-back victories over Wycombe and Macclesfield.

Jason Taylor, who limped out of last Saturday's game at Moss Rose with an ankle injury, failed to recover and was replaced by Keith Briggs

The Mariners included Danny Boshell and one-time County target Gary Jones.

The first chance fell the way of the visitors when Paul Bolland broke from midfield and it needed a strong challenge from Gaz Owen to make sure Conrad Logan wasn't tested.

The Mariners took the lead on 25 minutes when Nick Hegarty crossed from the left to Martin Butler who beat Logan from close range.

County were struggling to create any opportunities and Grimsby almost doubled their lead on 37 minutes.

Again Hegarty did the damage with a cross from the left but Logan pulled off a fine save from Butler's diving header.

Five minutes before the break Adam Proudlock's miscued shot landed at the feet of Liam Dickinson who turned smartly but Boshell did well to deflect the shot for a corner.

Grimsby responded in first-half stoppage time when Tom Newey's deep free kick found Nick Fenton. The defender had to stretch to make contact, though, and the ball cleared the bar.

Jim Gannon introduced Anthony Elding for Keith Briggs at the interval and Briggsy now looks to have made his final appearance at EP.

Grimsby had an early chance to make it 2-0 when Fenton was left unmarked from a corner that Gaz Owen managed to scramble away inside the six-yard box.

The Hatters were enjoying most of the possession but were struggling to break down a well-organised Mariners' side.

Michael Raynes, so impressive at the back, had a chance at the other end on 62 minutes but miscued a header from an excellent Michael Rose cross.

Raynes then had three shots blocked in quick succession but the came soon dropped back to mediocrity.

Nine minutes from time Sam Hird lunged into Anthony Pilkington, who had replaced Adam Griffin, which sparked a real melee. Hird was booked and Pilkington and Fenton followed him into the ref's notebook.

Justice was done when Rose brilliantly curled the resultant free kick into the top corner.

Four minutes later Phil Barnes made a brilliant save from another free kick this time taken from Adam Nowland.

The Blue & White Army had now turned up the volume and three times came close to grabbing a winner.

And, on each occasion it was through Liam Dickinson, who saw three headers fail to hit the target.