The Mariners were well-beaten at home as an impressive Swindon Town side scored four goals to claim all three points from the Good Friday clash at Blundell Park.

Tom Nichols’ early goal opened the scoring for the visitors and captain Ollie Clarke added a second just after the half-hour to put them in control.

Town were unable to get themselves back into the contest and Kabongo Tshimanga made the points safe for Swindon on 65 minutes, before substitute Botan Ameen completed the scoring in added time.

Grimsby were unchanged from the team that started last week’s draw at Harrogate Town, with goalkeeper Jordan Wright behind a back three of Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet.

Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume took up wing-back positions as George McEachran and Evan Khouri lined up behind Kieran Green in midfield, while Luca Barrington partnered Danny Rose in attack.

The substitutes were Jake Eastwood, Lewis Cass, Curtis Thompson, Charles Vernam, Callum Ainley, Darragh Burns and Geza Turi.

Swindon made the long journey north from Wiltshire looking to continue an excellent run of form under former Mariners manager Ian Holloway which had seen them win each of their last three games, the latest of which was a dramatic 5-4 home success against Bradford City.

Former Chesterfield and Peterborough United striker Tshimanga and 17-goal top scorer Harry Smith were among those aiming to cause problems for the Town defence.

FIRST HALF

Swindon keeper Conor Ripley was called into action within 30 seconds of kick-off as he raced out of his penalty area to beat Barrington to a ball floated over the top and head clear. The ball dropped for Rose, who sent a speculative shot over the bar from a narrow angle.

A delivery into the box from deep by Clarke was too high for Smith as Swindon attacked for the first time, with the visitors starting to settle.

And when the opening goal arrived on eight minutes, it was the away side who opened the scoring. Joel Cotterill made progress through the Town half from the right before finding Smith and he touched the ball on to Nichols, who beat Wright with a low strike from 20 yards.

Tharme cleared a low cross from the away left, before a strong challenge from Rose brought the home crowd to life as the volume was turned up on an already noisy atmosphere.

Town were struggling to create openings against a well-organised defence as the midway point of the half passed and Smith was first to Tharme’s first long throw of the afternoon to head clear.

Hume had to concede a corner at the other end on 25 minutes when Cotterill sent a low cross over from the right, although the delivery from the flag was turned wide for a goal kick at the near post.

Svanthorsson got on the end of a ball into the box from Khouri as Town looked for an equaliser but he was unable to generate enough power to beat Ripley at his near post.

Barrington saw a shot blocked soon afterwards as the Mariners came forward again, before a foul on Khouri gave them a free kick inside the Swindon half, although it did not lead to a chance in front of goal.

A let-off came on the half-hour when Tshimanga looked to capitalise on a mistake in the home defence. He looked for Paul Glatzel but great covering by McEachran saw him clear the danger.

Town’s luck was not to last much longer though, as a free kick from the away right was not dealt with after Tshimanga won the first header. Wright could only push the ball as far as Clarke and he headed it into the net from close range.

Smith headed over the bar as Swindon went in search of a third goal, then Rose won a throw-in as he came out on top in a battle near the left corner flag at the other end. Tharme sent it into the box but Wright cleared.

Another opportunity for the away side came a minute before the break after Cotterill set off on a run through midfield. The ball eventually fell for Smith but he could only fire over the bar from 20 yards.

Two added minutes were played at the end of the half and with no further chances coming for either side, Swindon remained in control at the interval.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and Tshimanga had the first chance of the second half when he got to a low ball into the box ahead of Rodgers, although he was unable to hit the target.

Rodgers headed a Hume free kick wide in Town’s first opportunity since the break, before Ripley had to race off his line to get to a short back-pass first under pressure from Green.

Turi and Vernam replaced McEachran and Hume as the hosts made a double-substitution on 54 minutes in a bid to turn the game in their favour.

A free kick from Swindon’s Wright was dealt with as Rose won the first header and Turi completed the clearance, before Turi saw the yellow card for a shirt-pull on Billy Kirkman.

The away side won a corner on the hour but it did not lead to a chance in front of goal, then Wright had to get down to stop a low cross from the right as Smith aimed to pounce from close range, as the visitors remained on top.

Ainley came on for Khouri in Town’s third change on 62 minutes and Vernam sent a dangerous-looking ball across from the left soon afterwards but nobody in black and white was in place to convert the chance and Swindon cleared.

Moments later, the visitors added to their advantage as they made it 3-0. After a quick break, Glatzel sent a low ball across from the right and Smith dummied to clear the way for Tshimanga finish neatly from close range.

Wright got a vital touch to another right-wing cross to take the ball away from Smith and stop him adding a fourth goal, before a Vernam free kick at the other end was brought clear by Gavin Kilkenny.

Town had another free kick midway inside the away half when Barrington was brought down on 75 minutes and it led to Green getting the ball inside the penalty area, only to fire into the side-netting.

Burns replaced Rose soon afterwards and Vernam flashed a 20-yard effort narrowly wide moments later, with Town still looking for a spark.

Clarke and Cotterill made way for Joe Westley and Tunmise Sobowale in Swindon’s first two changes with 12 minutes to go.

Westley’s first involvement almost saw him make it 4-0 as he met a low cross from Glatzel but his first-time shot rolled just past the far post.

Miguel Frecklington was booked for a foul on Burns as Town earned another free kick in a dangerous position on the right but again, they were unable to make it count as the ball broke for Vernam and his shot went through to keeper Ripley.

Tshimanga made way for Ameen before a Swindon corner on 86 minutes and as the game moved into at least five added minutes, the visitors were running the clock down.

Tharme made a vital interception to stop a Westley pass from reaching Glatzel and giving the former Liverpool youngster a clear route through to goal.

But there was still time for a fourth Swindon goal, as Glatzel found Sobowale and he pulled the ball back across the six-yard line for Ameen to tap in at the far post.

That proved to be the final action of note as the referee’s whistle brought an end to what had been a difficult afternoon for the Mariners.

Town are next in action on Easter Monday, when they travel to league-leaders Port Vale.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Svanthorsson, McEachran (Turi, 54), Green, Khouri (Ainley, 63), Hume (Vernam, 54), Rose (Burns, 75), Barrington

Subs not used: Eastwood, Cass, Thompson

Attendance, brought to you by Kingsway Hotel, Cleethorpes: 7,624 with 363 visiting fans