The Mariners produced an excellent team performance to beat Doncaster Rovers in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Justin Obikwu and Jason Svanthorsson struck either side of half-time to earn all three points in South Yorkshire and send the 2,897 travelling fans home happy.

Promotion-chasing Doncaster started the lunchtime kick-off strongly but Town stood up to the early threat well and began to take control of the contest by the half-hour mark.

Obikwu opened the scoring eight minutes before the interval and Svanthorsson doubled the away advantage just after the break.

Town had to withstand a late fightback after substitute Rob Street made it 2-1 with six minutes to go but they held firm to secure a deserved victory.

Grimsby were unchanged after last week’s home victory over Carlisle United, so goalkeeper Jordan Wright lined up behind a three-man defence of Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet.  Svanthorsson and Denver Hume operated as wing-backs, with George McEachran, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri forming the midfield as Danny Rose and Obikwu led the attack.

Callum Ainley replaced Charles Vernam in the only change to the bench, with Seb Auton, Curtis Thompson, Jayden Luker, Luca Barrington, Darragh Burns and Tyrell Warren also named as substitutes.

Doncaster boss Grant McCann included former Mariner Harry Clifton in his starting line-up, after the midfielder missed Monday’s FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.  Others to watch in the Rovers team would include Luke Molyneux and Joe Ironside, with veteran goalscorer Billy Sharp kept in reserve on the bench.#

FIRST HALF

Clifton had the first chance of the game inside the opening two minutes and he called Wright into action with a 25-yard drive which the keeper pushed away from goal.

Jamie Sterry set off on a dangerous run down the home right soon afterwards but after linking up with Clifton inside the Town penalty area, the right-back was unable to earn a corner.

Green created Grimsby’s first opening at the other end but when the midfielder looked up to cross, nobody was in place to meet the ball.

Obikwu won the afternoon’s first corner on eight minutes as the Mariners started to come into the game, although Hume’s delivery was glanced wide at the near post by Green.

A Hume cross proved just too high for Obikwu moments later and the hosts cleared when the striker could not control Svanthorsson’s return ball into the box.

Sterry sent a 20-yard chip over the bar at the other end, then Wright got down to stop a low strike and a curling shot by Molyneux was also comfortable for the keeper.

Owen Bailey became the latest to shoot straight at Wright on 18 minutes after Obikwu had been caught offside to end a Town attack, then Rose and Svanthorsson combined to create an opening which eventually led to a corner on the away right.  Hume’s delivery was volleyed back across goal by McEachran at the far post but Doncaster keeper Ted Sharman-Lowe got down to push the ball behind.

Khouri fired wide after doing well to create space for a shot from 25 yards, before Doncaster were forced into the first substitution on 33 minutes as Jack Senior replaced the injured James Maxwell.

After a lively opening quarter of the contest with chances at both ends, Town were starting to take control as the game settled down.

McJannet flashed a ball across the six-yard line from the left and it took a deflection for a throw-in, although Sterry brought Tharme’s long throw clear and was fouled by Svanthorsson.

The Mariners did not have to wait much longer to break the deadlock though, as Rose found OBIKWU on 37 minutes and after a great first touch took him clear, the Coventry City loanee kept his composure to beat Sharman-Lowe with a low strike from inside the box.

Four added minutes were played at the end of the first half as Doncaster looked for an equaliser before the break.

But they were unable to threaten Wright’s goal as the Town defence held firm to ensure the visitors went into the dressing rooms with the lead.#

SECOND HALF

No further changes were made before the restart an Doncaster had the ball in the net within 40 seconds through Jordan Gibson but the offside flag had already gone up against Molyneux.

Instead, Town doubled their advantage two minutes into the half.  After a penalty appeal was waved away when Rose went down, the Mariners kept possession and SVANTHORSSON cut inside from the right to find the net from a narrow angle, via a deflection off Sharman-Lowe at his near post.

Rose saw the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Sterry, before Gibson won a corner on the home left.  The flag-kick did not trouble Wright as Joseph Olowu headed away from goal and Gibson brought Rose down as he attempted to take the ball clear.

Street, George Broadbent and Patrick Kelly replaced Gibson, Charlie Crew and Clifton as Doncaster made a triple-substitution on 54 minutes in a bid to get back into the contest.

But Town were still in control at the hour mark an Rose won a free kick in a promising position on the left, although Hume’s far-post delivery was caught by Sharman-Lowe.

Another Hume free kick led to an offside decision, before Rose sent a shot on the turn through to the keeper as the visitors continued to attack in search of a third goal.

Sharp replaced Ironside for the home side on 64 minutes and a foul on Bailey gave them a free kick midway inside the Town half four minutes later.  Molyneux sent it into the Town box but his ball was too far ahead of Sharp.

Warren and Ainley came on for Rodgers and Green as Town boss David Artell made two changes on 73 minutes, then Barrington and Thompson were introduced in place of Obikwu and McEachran three minutes later.

Barrington’s first contribution saw him win a corner on the left and Hume’s delivery was put behind for another one, which McJannet headed wide at the near post.

Doncaster were still looking for a route back into the game and they found it with six minutes to go, as a cross from the left was headed past Wright by STREET to make it 2-1.

Burns came on for his Town debut in place of Rose after he goal but the momentum was suddenly with the hosts and Tharme had to make a brilliant block to deny Kelly from a corner.

Sterry headed wide as Doncaster poured forward, before Molyneux fired just wide as the game moved into at least six minutes of added time.

A great challenge by McJannet denied Street, then Olowu headed a corner wide at the far post as the hosts kept pushing for an equaliser.

But when Ainley was fouled after Bailey had hesitated over a shooting chance, it proved to be Doncaster’s final chance to salvage a draw as Town held on for a big three points.

The Mariners are next in action on Saturday, when Fleetwood Town will be the visitors to Blundell Park.

Town: Wright, Rodgers (Warren, 73), Tharme, McJannet, Svanthorsson, McEachran (Thompson, 76), Green (Ainley, 73), Khouri, Hume, Rose (Burns, 84), Obikwu (Barrington, 76)

Subs not used: Auton, Luker