Jaze Kabia’s 96th-minute winner earned the Mariners all three points against Fleetwood Town at Blundell Park.

Town were on top for most of the contest but as the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark, it looked like being a frustrating evening as the scoresheet remained blank.

Substitute Justin Amaluzor had gone the closest to breaking the deadlock when he turned an Andy Cook header onto the post.

But the hosts kept pushing for a way of converting their pressure into a winning goal and deep into stoppage time, they got their reward as Irishman Kabia marked St Patrick’s Day by forcing the ball over the line from a corner to seal maximum points.

Four changes were made to the Grimsby XI following Saturday’s defeat at Oldham Athletic, with Reece Staunton, Jamie Walker, Kabia and Andy Cook coming in for Jayden Sweeney, George McEachran, Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Jude Soonsup-Bell.

Jackson Smith started in goal, as Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet and Staunton formed the defence.  Geza Turi sat behind Darragh Burns, Kieran Green, Walker and Kabia in midfield, with Cook leading the attack.

Sweeney, Soonsup-Bell and McEachran were all named on the bench, where there was also a first appearance in a matchday squad this calendar year for Christy Pym.  Amaluzor, Tyrell Warren and Clarke Oduor completed the list of substitutes.

Fleetwood made the journey from the west coast hours after announcing Matt Lawlor as their new permanent head coach, following a spell in interim charge which had seen the team put together an eight-match unbeaten run.

Lawlor would look to strikers Ched Evans and Will Davies to cause the main threat to the Town defence in a bid to extend the sequence to nine games without defeat.

FIRST HALF

An early cross from Green on the right was eventually cleared, before goalkeeper Jay Lynch came off his line to claim a Burns cross as the Mariners started brightly.

Smith caught a cross from Evans at the other end, then Rodgers fired off-target from distance as Town went forward again.

The hosts won the first corner on nine minutes as Connor Haughey got to Staunton’s ball into the box ahead of Cook and it turned into a second, then a third, as the pressure continued.  Rodgers’ powerful strike was deflected behind for a fourth corner in quick succession but this time, the danger was dealt with.

Green won yet another corner after a great touch by Burns from Smith’s long pass, although Staunton’s right-wing delivery did not lead to a chance in front of goal.

Cook headed at Lynch after Kabia and Walker had linked up on the left, then a mistake by Lynch led to an opportunity for Green after Cook pounced on the loose ball, although the keeper recovered well to stop the midfielder’s shot.

A low strike by Burns was blocked at the edge of the box, before good strength by Kacurri saw him come out on top in a duel with Davies to win the ball inside the Town penalty area and clear.

Rodgers headed over the bar from a Staunton free kick as the home side remained on top at the midway point in the first half and although Fleetwood won a corner just before the half-hour, they were unable to profit from it as a foul on Kabia gave Town a free kick.

A ball into the box from Turi at the other end was headed behind for a corner and it led to a free kick on the opposite, right flank for a push on Walker.  Staunton’s delivery found its way to Burns but his 20-yard strike was blocked and Walker’s follow-up effort went wide.

Kabia and Cook saw shots blocked in quick succession as the Mariners kept searching for a breakthrough.

Walker headed over the bar on 38 minutes and Town continued to push forward for the rest of the half but after one added minute was played, the game remained goalless at the interval.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made ahead of the restart and the visitors had the first shot of the second half within 20 seconds but Josh Powell’s low strike was comfortably stopped by Smith.

A low cross from Evans was dealt with by Turi, then a stoppage came for Kabia and Shaun Rooney to receive treatment after a clash of heads near the dugouts.  Both were passed fit to continue.

Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal saw the first yellow card of the evening on 54 minutes for bringing Turi down on the halfway line and ending a promising run by the Faroese international.

Kacurri followed him into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Mark Helm, before Matty Virtue replaced Neal and James Norwood came on for Davies as the away side made the first substitutions just after the hour.

Powell sent a 20-yard strike through to Smith, before a vital interception by Mitchell Clark saw him get to a Rodgers cross ahead of Kabia at the other end.

Good pressure by Kabia earned Town a throw-in on the left but after Staunton did well to create the space for a cross, the referee spotted a foul on Rooney and blew for a Fleetwood free kick.

Burns won a free kick on the right on 72 minutes and it proved to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Amaluzor in the hosts’ fiirst change.  Powell was booked for kicking the ball away after conceding the foul, although he was also the man in place to head Staunton’s delivery clear.

Cook hit the post from a narrow angle after showing determination to keep the ball alive, before Clark became the latest to be booked after a foul on Staunton.

Town went close on 79 minutes as Amaluzor turned a Cook header onto the post, before a Staunton corner was headed clear and Rodgers got back to stop a fast break by the visitors.

Kabia won a corner five minutes later as the Mariners continued to turn up the pressure and Cook earned another one soon afterwards, although both were dealt with.

Soonsup-Bell and McEachran came on for Cook and Turi with four minutes to go, while Esapa Osong replaced Evans for Fleetwood at the same time.

Powell then made way for Rhys Bennett and Crispen McLean came on for Helm as the away side made further changes on 89 minutes.

A minimum of six added minutes gave both sides further opportunity to find a winning goal and Town had a free kick in a dangerous position on the left when Rooney pulled Kabia down.  The defender was yellow-carded for the foul but Staunton’s delivery was flicked clear.

But there was to be one final chance for the Mariners to grab all three points with a corner on the right and this time, they took their opportunity as Staunton’s flag-kick was not cleared and Rodgers sent the ball towards goal before KABIA forced it over the line from close range to spark celebrations around the ground.

Finley Potter headed over the bar as Fleetwood aimed for a dramatic equaliser to snatch a point but that proved to be their final opportunity as Town saw the remaining time out to celebrate a hard-earned win.

The Mariners are next in action on Saturday, when they host Barrow at Blundell Park.

UTM