The Mariners were beaten on the road as a late goal secured victory for Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

In a game of few chances for either side where moments of quality were at a premium, Town had gone the closest to breaking the deadlock when substitute Jamie Walker hit the bar from 20 yards.

But when the breakthrough came eight minutes from time, it was Oldham sub Josh Hawkes who had the decisive say as he ran onto a defence-splitting pass to slot past Jackson Smith and grab all three points for the hosts.

Three changes were made to the Grimsby line-up after the draw with Bromley last time out, as Jayden Sweeney, Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Jude Soonsup-Bell replaced Reece Staunton, Charles Vernam and Andy Cook.  There was also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Jason Svanthorsson, who was named on the bench as he looked to make his comeback from injury.

Smith continued in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet and Sweeney forming the defence.  Geza Turi sat behind Darragh Burrns, Kieran Green, George McEachran and Sellars-Fleming in midfield, while Soonsup-Bell led the attack.

Staunton and Cook joined Svanthorsson, Walker, Jaze Kabia, Justin Amaluzor and Tyrell Warren on the bench.

Town began the game outside Sky Bet League Two’s play-off places after Chesterfield’s lunchtime away victory at Notts County, although David Artell’s side knew they would go back into the top seven in the league table with a win of their own.

Oldham, meanwhile, were looking to strengthen their own play-off bid by earning a victory, with Micky Mellon’s men seven points adrift of the Mariners at kick-off.  Mellon would look to strikers Mike Fondup and Calum Kavanagh to cause the main threat to the Town defence.

FIRST HALF

A foul on Sellars-Fleming gave Town an early free kick just outside the centre-circle and after it was initially played short, McEachran found Soonsup-Bell on the edge of the penalty area but he could not bring the ball under control.

Kacurri headed away at the other end as Jack Stevens looked to get on the end of a header from Kavanagh.   Stevens sent the ball back into the box from the home left but Kane Drummond could only turn it wide at the far post.

Turi eventually lost out to Ryan Woods after a promising run through the middle on eight minutes, before a foul by McEachran gave the hosts a free kick wide on their right.  Tom Pett’s delivery was headed clear by Kacurri.

Soonsup-Bell needed treatment after a clash of heads with defender Donervon Daniels but was passed fit to continue, before Drummond saw a penalty appeal waved away when he went down inside the box under a challenge from Turi.

Sellars-Fleming blocked a low cross from Will Sutton, then McJannet came across to get to the ball ahead of Drummond and concede the first corner of the afternoon.  Pett’s ball from the right was headed away and Turi completed the clearance.

Drummond volleyed over the bar from 25 yards moments later as Oldham continued to push forward, then Sweeney was caught offside at the end of Town’s next attack after Sellars-Fleming cut inside from the left and hit a shot which was blocked.

Daniels headed a Sweeney cross away as the Mariners attacked again but soon afterwards, McJannet had to volley out for a corner at the other end.  Woods eventually sent the ball into the box but his cross was too close to Smith and the keeper claimed a comfortable catch.

Neither goalkeeper had been called into serious action as the half-hour mark passed and a free kick from the home left was wel-defended, then a stoppage came for Stevens to receive treatment following a challenge on McEachran.

Sweeney won a corner when his low cross was put behind by Sutton and from it, Town went close to taking the lead as Sellars-Fleming’s delivery was headed just wide of the far post by Green.

The hosts were forced into making the first substitution on 37 minutes as Kavanagh made way for Joe Garner but as half-time loomed, both sides were still struggling to create danger and Green’s header remained the best chance of the game so far.

Five added minutes were played at the end of the first half and Smith comfortably claimed another cross, this time from Stevens on the left.

No further chances came before the half-time whistle, leaving the game goalless at the break.

SECOND HALF

Cook replaced Soonsup-Bell ahead of the restart and an early stoppage came for Turi to receive treatment after a clash with Woods, with both managers yellow-carded in the aftermath.

Sutton saw a header blocked as Oldham created the first chance of the second half, then McJannet had to head behind for a corner as he beat Fondup to a cross from the left.

Town looked to have an opening when Daniels gave the ball away in midfield and Cook found Green on the left, although Manny Monthe got back to win a challenge with the midfielder and Woods played the ball back to goalkeeper Mathew Hudson.

Walker came on for Turi in the away side’s second change on 55 minutes and he combined with Sellars-Fleming soon afterwards to create another opening on the left but the Hull City loanee’s cross was headed away by Jamie Robson.

Green battled well to win a throw-in on the right and Burns ensured it turned into another one near the corner flag but this time, Robson headed Rodgers’ long throw away.

Town were now on top as the hour mark passed but Oldham were presented with an opportunity when Smith mis-controlled a back-pass and Stevens took the ball.  He chipped a cross for Woods but the midfielder fired harmlessly over the bar from 18 yards.

A foul on Cook gave the Mariners a free kick in a dangerous, central position on 64 minutes but they were unable to profit from it, then Kabia replaced Sellars-Fleming as Town looked to their bench for a second time.

Hawkes came on for Stevens as Oldham responded with a change of their own, before Walker won a free kick inside the home half.  From it, Town forced Hudson into action as Burns sent the ball into the box and Kacurri won the header but Green’s volley was saved.

Sutton headed a Walker corner away at the near post as the Grimsby pressure continued, then Walker went the closest yet to opening the scoring as he curled a 20-yard strike beyond Hudson but saw it bounce back off the bar.

Oli Hammond came on for Drummond in Oldham’s latest change with 15 minutes to go and he created a big chance soon afterwards, keeping the ball in on the right and sending a low cross over which was flicked into the path of Fondup.  The striker could not make it count though, as he fired into the side-netting at the near post.

Green won a corner on the right as the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes but when Burns’ delivery was flicked on, Daniels got to the loose ball first to clear for a throw-in.

Town had looked the more likely to force a winner but when the deadlock was eventually broken on 82 minutes, it was the hosts who took the lead.  The goal came on the counter-attack as a Town move broke down when Hammond brought the ball clear.  He looked up and played a defence-splitting pass for fellow sub HAWKES, who kept his composure to slot past the onrushing Smith.

Amaluzor and Staunton replaced McEachran and Sweeney in the visitors’ final changes as they aimed to get themselves back on level terms.

Hudson got down to stop a low cross from Staunton just before the game moved into at least five added minutes.

Woods was booked for preventing a Town free kick from being taken, before Cook was stopped inside the box and Garner headed a Burns cross clear as the Mariners pushed forward in search of a leveller.

A corner on the right brought a further opportunity to create danger but when Staunton’s ball was flicked towards goal, Garner was in place again to clear off the line.

Amaluzor picked up a late yellow card but Town were unable to create any more chances as Oldham saw out the remaining time to collect the points.

The Mariners are back in action on Tuesday, when they host Fleetwood Town at Blundell Park.

Town: Smith, Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney (Staunton, 85), Turi (Walker, 55), Burns, Green, McEachran (Amaluzor, 85), Sellars-Fleming (Kabia, 65), Soonsup-Bell (Cook, 46)

Subs not used: Svanthorsson, Warren

UTM