The Mariners let a two-goal lead slip as Barrow fought back to earn a share of the spoils from a 2-2 draw in Cumbria.
Early goals from Danny Rose and Kieran Green put Town in control but Rekeem Harper’s long-range strike against the run of play brought the hosts back into the contest just before half-time.
The visitors were on the front foot again after the break but despite creating some good chances, they were unable to find a third goal and were made to pay when Charlie McCann struck from 25 yards to secure a point for Barrow.
Three changes were made to the Grimsby starting XI from the team that began last Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup victory over Ebbsfleet United, with Tyrell Warren, Green and Jaze Kabia returning to the line-up as Sam Lavelle, Jayden Sweeney and Jamie Walker missed out.
There was also a change of shape, with a back three of Harvey Rodgers, Warren and Cameron McJannet in front of goalkeeper Christy Pym. Jason Svanthorsson, Green, Geza Turi, Evan Khouri and Charles Vernam were the midfielders, while Rose joined Kabia in attack.
Walker was named on the bench, alongside Charlie Casper, Reece Staunton, Neo Eccleston, Clarke Oduor, Zak Gilsenan and Justin Amaluzor.
Barrow were unchanged following their FA Cup win against Spennymoor Town, with the Bluebirds looking to extend a six-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two and make progress from 15th in the league table with another victory.
FIRST HALF
Warren’s strength saw him hold off Josh Gordon and win an early free kick inside the Grimsby penalty area, before Kabia was caught offside as the visitors looked to get in behind the Barrow defence.
Town’s first move into the Barrow penalty area saw them take the lead, as Vernam pulled the ball back for Rose from the left. His strike was blocked but the hosts were unable to clear their lines and after Kabia fired back across goal, Green headed down at the far post for ROSE to stoop and head home from close range.
Another Vernam cross was cleared as the Mariners immediately went in search of a second goal, then the winger looked for Khouri on the left but the pass was too strong and the ball rolled away for a goal kick.
A foul by Rose gave the home side an opportunity to respond with a free kick on their right and it fell for Charlie Raglan at the far post but he could only head at Pym.
And seconds later, it was 2-0 to Town as Rodgers’ superb ball down the right was met by GREEN, who outpaced Raglan and lifted the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Wyll Stanway with a smart finish to double the advantage with 13 minutes on the clock.
Rodgers stepped in to stop Elliot Newby after he beat Svanthorsson on the home left and cut into the box, then Barrow’s first corner of the afternoon led to a penalty appeal when Lewis Shipley’s shot hit McJannet’s hand. The referee waved the claim away.
Khouri sent a dangerous-looking low cross along the six-yard line on 26 minutes after an intelligent flick by Kabia but the ball was too far ahead of Svanthorsson, then a deep cross from Connor Mahoney at the other end proved comfortable for Pym.
Town were in control as the half-hour mark passed and Green launched another attack with a good ball for Kabia on the right.  He cut inside and crossed towards the far post but the ball was too high for Rose.
Kabia missed the target at the near post with a snap-shot after a great touch by Rose, then Ben Whitfield was caught offside for the hosts as Pym remained untroubled in the Town goal.
Vernam had a chance when a long ball from Pym broke for him but after working an opening inside the box, the winger’s shot was palmed away by Stanway. The rebound ricocheted to Kabia and he looked to pull it back for Svanthorsson but the home defence recovered to clear.
A Barrow free kick on 42 minutes was well dealt with as Green headed clear, then Isaac Fletcher saw a shot blocked from the edge of the box as the hosts looked to reduce their deficit before the break.
And they were back in the game on 44 minutes, as Whitfield played the ball to HARPER and he let fly from distance with a strike which beat Pym to make it 2-1.
Four added minutes were played at the end of the first half and after Pym found Vernam with a long pass, he worked the space for a low cross which was cleared.
A foul on Turi seconds later brought a Town free kick near the edge of the Barrow box but Vernam’s shot from it was deflected wide for a corner. Vernam’s flag-kick fell for Green but he was denied from close range by Stanway.
That proved to be the final opportunity of a first half where the Mariners had been in charge almost from start to finish, although Harper’s goal just before the interval meant there was still plenty of work for the men in black and white to do in order to return home with maximum points.
SECOND HALF
Niall Canavan and Kane Hemmings replaced Ben Jackson and Fletcher in a double-substitution for Barrow before the restart and a foul by Kabia gave them a free kick in a promising position on the right four minutes in. Mahoney sent it towards the far post and Harper connected with a firm header but this time, Pym got down to make a good stop.
Gordon was spoken to by the referee after a foul on McJannet but Vernam’s resulting free kick from the left was headed away. Town retained possession and Vernam created a chance for McJannet, who was kept out by Stanway.
Svanthorsson lifted an 18-yard strike over the bar at the end of a neat move, then a driving run by Green led to a corner on the right. Svanthorsson played it short to Vernam and he found Khouri on the edge of the box but the midfielder’s side-footed volley flew just wide.
Svanthorsson then did well at the other end to stop Newby at the expense of a corner and Pym got to Whitfield’s flag-kick first to punch clear.
A cross from Green was headed away as the game moved from end to end with the hour mark looming, then Rodgers slid in to win a challenge with Hemmings, who was booked after catching the Town defender late.
McJannet did well to get back and win the ball from Gordon after the attacker had initially got to Mahoney’s pass first, then Rose headed just wide after meeting a cross from Green on the right.
Whitfield fired wide with a first-time effort from 25 yards as Barrow kept looking for an equaliser and both sides made a change soon afterwards, with Eccleston replacing Svanthorson for Town and Michael Adu-Poku coming on in place of Mahomey for the hosts.
Gordon saw the yellow card after a foul on Khouri on 68 minutes, then Khouri missed the target from 10 yards after a Green cross broke for him as the Mariners continued to create good chances.
But they were made to pay for not taking those opportunities as Barrow levelled the scores with 16 minutes to go. Again, it was a strike from distance as this time, McCANN got his name on the scoresheet with a 25-yard effort which Pym was unable to keep out.
A handball by Warren gave the hosts a free kick on their left as they suddenly had the momentum and now looked to complete the turnaround and claim a victory which had seemed unlikely for much of the afternoon.
The set-piece was dealt with but a foul by Eccleston soon brought another free kick on the left, which was headed away by the Huddersfield Town loanee.
Eccleston cleared again after a long throw was touched on towards goal, then Green was booked for bringing Newby down inches outside the Town penalty area. McCann’s free kick hit the away wall but the hosts retained possession and won a corner on the right, which was headed away.
Amaluzor, Walker and Staunton replaced Rose, Khouri and Vernam with seven minutes to go as Town aimed to regain control of the game and find a way to get themselves back in front.
Gordon shot wide of the far post from the home left on 89 minutes, then Amaluzor had a chance to win the game for the Mariners after the clock ticked into a minimum of five added minutes but his shot from 20 yards was well-blocked.
Newby was booked as Town continued to come forward in search of a late winner but they were unable to find it and were instead forced to settle for just one point as the game finished level at 2-2.
The Mariners are next in action on Saturday, when they host Chesterfield at Blundell Park.
Town: Pym, Rodgers, Warren, McJannet, Svanthorsson (Eccleston, 67), Green, Turi, Khouri (Walker, 83), Vernam (Staunton, 83), Kabia, Rose (Amaluzor, 83)
Subs not used: Casper, Oduor, Gilsenan
UTM
