The Mariners beat Fleetwood Town at Blundell Park to ensure they will end February with a perfect record of four wins out of four.

After a first half of few chances for either side, George McEachran’s contender for Goal of the Season was the difference between the two at the interval.

Fleetwood grabbed the momentum following the restart and equalised through Ryan Graydon just after the hour.

But Town’s response was superb and the visitors were level for just three minutes until Danny Rose headed what proved to be the winning goal.

Luca Barrington replaced Justin Obikwu in the only change to the Grimsby starting XI following the victory at Doncaster Rovers last time out.

Jordan Wright lined up in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet again forming a trio in central defence. Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume occupied wing-back berths as McEachran, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri made up the midfield, while Barrington partnered skipper Rose in attack.

Donovan Wilson came into the matchday squad on the bench, where he was joined by Seb Auton, Curtis Thompson, Jayden Luker, Callum Ainley, Darragh Burns and Tyrell Warren.

Fleetwood made the journey from the west coast looking for a victory which could take them into the top half of the Sky Bet League Two table. Manager Pete Wild would look to the likes of Sheffield United loanee Louie Marsh to help achieve that aim.

FIRST HALF

An early Town free kick was cleared after Tharme had won the initial header inside the penalty area, before Rose headed wide from Hume’s cross at the end of a quick break as the hosts started strongly.

Rose cleared a free kick at the other end, then Tharme won the game’s first corner, which eventually led to another one after Svanthorsson played it short to Hume. This time, Town kept possession until McJannet fired over the bar from 15 yards.

Good pressure by Barrington saw him win a throw-in after a ball over the top from McJannet and Tharme sent it towards the six-yard box but Fleetwood captain Brendan Wiredu was in place to clear.

The visitors started to come into the game after the quarter-hour mark and Khouri had to clear a low cross from Phoenix Patterson after a spell of Fleetwood possession.

But when the opening goal arrived on 23 minutes, it was the Mariners who took the lead. A Tharme long throw initially looked like it had been dealt with but Town kept the ball and McEACHRAN cut inside from the right before unleashing a 25-yard thunderbolt which found the top corner of the net.

The away side aimed to hit back straight away but a Patterson free kick from the right was cleared and a cross from the opposite flank found its way through to Wright.

After a stoppage for Khouri to receive treatment, another break in play followed when Rose clashed heads with defender Rhys Bennett.

Bennett went on to be booked for a foul on Rose midway inside the away half and the resulting free kick led to a corner when Wiredu beat Rodgers to Hume’s far-post delivery. Hume’s ball from the flag was headed away.

Harrison Neal sent a first-time shot wide as Wright remained untroubled in the Mariners goal, before Svanthorsson won a corner at the other end. Hume’s ball from the flag was not dealt with and after Green brought it back into the box, Rose eventually sent a low shot through to goalkeeper Jay Lynch.

Danny Mayor was booked for a foul as the first half moved into a minimum of four added minutes, then Hume chipped another free kick over the bar.

That proved to be the last opportunity for either side before the referee blew for half-time, with Town retaining their one-goal advantage at the break.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made by either side before the restart and Wiredu made a vital interception to stop an early Green cross from reaching Svanthorsson.

Fleetwood were first to threaten in the second half as a chipped cross from Patterson on the left found Shaun Rooney in space but his volley from 12 yards lacked power and direction as it rolled wide.

A foul on Rose gave Town a free kick in a promising position midway inside the away half on 52 minutes, although it was well-defended and Fleetwood broke through Graydon. Hume did well to get back and clear for a throw-in.

Bennett won a corner for the visitors after a free kick broke for him and Wright punched the flag-kick away as far as Mayor on the edge of the box. He found Marsh but the striker was denied from close range by the Mariners keeper.

Owen Davenport replaced Marsh soon afterwards as the away side made the first substitution, then Graydon became the latest to see the yellow card for a foul on Tharme.

The momentum was with Fleetwood and they drew level just after the hour, when a long ball found GRAYDON and he had the simple task of lifting it over the advancing Wright.

But they were level for just three minutes, as the Mariners quickly grabbed their lead back. Wiredu was booked for a foul in a central position and Khouri rolled the free kick left for Hume, who chipped it into the box for Rose to head past Lynch.

Wilson replaced Barrington in Town’s first change but the away side were inches away from a second equaliser moments later as Rooney’s low strike from the right just missed the far post.

A stoppage came for Wright to receive treatment after he went down off the ball, although he was passed fit to continue.

Mackenzie Hunt and Mark Helm replaced Mayor and Bennett on 74 minutes and a Fleetwood corner soon afterwards was headed away by Tharme as far as Neal, whose first-time shot took a deflection on its way wide for a goal kick.

Thompson was sent on in place of Green in the black and white of the Mariners on 77 minutes, before Rodgers headed a Patterson free kick away for a throw-in.

Hunt conceded a corner at the other end as Svanthorsson looked for Khouri with a through-ball and the flag-kick turned into another one, which led to a blocked volley from Rose. Tharme eventually headed through to keeper Lynch.

Aston Villa loanee Kobei Moore replaced Elliot Bonds for Fleetwood with three minutes to go, before Ainley and Warren came on in place of Rose and Svanthorsson for Town.

Seven added minutes were played and after Wilson was brought down on the edge of the box, the referee allowed play to continue but Ainley could not take advantage as Lynch dived at his feet to make a good block. Defender James Bolton was eventually booked for the foul.

Wilson was also booked after he brought Wiredu down as Fleetwood looked to launch a counter-attack, with the clock ticking down.

Town then saw out the remainder of the game to secure all three points and register a fourth victory in a row.

Next up for the Mariners is an away trip to face Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Svanthorsson (Warren, 88), McEachran, Green (Thompson, 77), Khouri, Hume, Rose (Ainley, 88), Barrington (Wilson, 67)

Subs not used: Auton, Luker, Burns

Attendance, bought to you by Kingsway Hotel, Cleethorpes: 5,996