Two Kieran Green goals came either side of a Luca Barrington thunderbolt to earn the Mariners an important victory over Morecambe at Blundell Park.

Green opened the scoring with a glancing header from a corner but relegation-threatened Morecambe equalised five minutes later through Andrew Dallas to ensure they went in level at half-time.

Town seized the momentum back with Barrington’s 20-yard rocket three minutes after the restart and from then on, they dominated the contest and Green’s second goal of the afternoon sealed the points to ensure the Mariners remain in the Sky Bet League Two play-off places with five games still to play.

Four changes were made to the Grimsby starting line-up following the midweek defeat at Crewe Alexandra, with Cameron McJannet, Darragh Burns, Geza Turi and Danny Rose all coming into the XI as Tyrell Warren, Jason Svanthorsson, George McEachran and Jayden Luker made way.

Jordan Wright started in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and McJannet forming the defence. Burns and Denver Hume were the wing-backs as Turi and Evan Khouri lined up behind Green in midfield, while Barrington partnered Rose in attack.

Warren, Svanthorsson and McEachran were all named on the bench, where there was also a long-awaited return from injury for Charles Vernam. Curtis Thompson, Jordan Davies and Jake Eastwood completed the list of substitutes.

Morecambe arrived in Cleethorpes looking for three points to aid their fight against the drop to the National League. And with relegation rivals Tranmere Rovers winning earlier in the afternoon, Derek Adams’ men knew they had to respond with a victory of their own to stop the gap to the safety zone from widening further.

Adams would look to his three-man strikeforce of Dallas, Lee Angol and Hallam Hope to cause problems for the Town defence.

FIRST HALF

Morecambe had the ball in the net from their first attack of note, after Callum Jones made progress through the middle. His deep cross was touched on by Hope for Angol to convert at the far post but the offside flag went up and the goal was ruled out.

Town were then presented with an opening when Barrington pounced on a short back-pass but after going down under contact inside the box, the home claims for a penalty were waved away.

Rose hit the frame of the goal on the stretch from a narrow angle at the far post after a Tharme long throw broke for Turi inside the penalty area, as the fast-paced opening to the game continued.

The tempo dropped as both sides settled but Town had an opportunity to create danger on 19 minutes when Hume was brought down by Adam Lewis inside the Morecambe half. They were unable to make the free kick count though, as David Tutonda brought Hume’s delivery clear.

A run from Hume five minutes later took him into the box and his low shot took a deflection for a corner. From the flag-kick, the Mariners took the lead, as GREEN stooped to meet Hume’s delivery and glance a brilliant header past keeper Harry Burgoyne.

Morecambe aimed to respond immediately and a corner from their left was put behind for another one. The pressure continued with a third flag-kick in quick succession and this time, it was half-cleared and played back to the taker, Adam Lewis, who sent his cross out for a goal kick.

After falling behind, the visitors had taken the initiative and they were back on level terms on the half-hour, as Jones found DALLAS in space near the edge of the box. He took a touch to cut inside and picked his spot to curl a strike beyond the dive of Wright from 20 yards.

Khouri did well to get back and draw a foul as Morecambe went forward again, before Hume beat Hope to a long ball and stop a break by the away side.

Turi saw the first yellow card of the afternoon on 39 minutes for a foul in the centre circle and Dallas quickly followed him into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Rose.

Burgoyne caught a header from Green after the midfielder connected with a Rodgers cross from the right as the first half moved into at least two added minutes.

And with no further chances coming for either side before the referee’s half-time whistle, it remained all-square at the break.

SECOND HALF

McEachran replaced Turi for Town ahead of the restart and they made a fast start, winning a corner within a minute.

A free kick followed on the right and it led to the Mariners reclaiming the advantage. After it was played short, McEachran and Hume combined on the edge of the box to find Barrington, who arrowed a superb 20-yard drive past Burgoyne and into the top corner of the net.

Burns won another free kick in a promising position on the right on 53 minutes but this time, Rodgers could not direct his header towards goal after meeting Hume’s chip towards the penalty spot.

Defender Rhys Williams was unable to get on the end of a free kick at the other end as Morecambe looked to hit back once again, although the momentum was now with the home side.

Marcus Dackers and Ben Tollitt came on for Tom White and Hope for the visitors just after the hour in a bid to change the course of the game.

Khouri had an opportunity soon afterwards after linking up with Barrington but was unable to work the space for a shot, then a low ball into the box from Hume was cut out for a corner. Hume’s delivery from the left was half-cleared but Town retained possession until a cross from Barrington was headed away.

Tutonda saw the yellow card for a push on Green on 67 minutes but McJannet could only head Hume’s free kick through to Burgoyne.

Barrington saw a shot blocked as the Mariners remained on top, before Tutonda made way for Max Taylor in the away side’s latest change with 19 minutes remaining.

Burgoyne had to tip an attempt from Burns around his post for a corner as Town took advantage of a slip in the Morecambe defence, then Svanthorsson replaced Burns, who left the pitch to a warm ovation after an impressive display.

A Morecambe corner from Adam Lewis was comfortably cleared at the near post butt they had another opportunity to create danger after Tharme was booked for bringing Dackers down to the left of the Town box. Rose headed the free kick clear but the visitors kept possession and won themselves a corner on the right. Callum Cooke replaced Dallas before it was taken and Wright was not tested from the flag-kick.

Instead, the Mariners made sure of the points soon afterwards when they scored a third goal. Rodgers sent a fantastic low ball into the box from the right and after it was touched on by Barrington, GREEN was in place to apply the finish from close range.

Green made way for Davies with six minutes to go and Town were now looking to add to their score, with Svanthorsson going close as Burgoyne tipped his low effort wide for a corner.

A strike by McEachran was also deflected wide for a corner and this time, Rodgers headed at the keeper.

Warren replaced Barrington after the game moved into a minimum of four added minutes and the Mariners saw out the remainder of the contest to register a victory which maintains their position among the division’s top seven.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Harrogate Town.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet, Burns (Svanthorsson, 74), Turi (McEachran, 46), Green (Davies, 84), Khouri, Hume, Rose, Barrington (Warren, 90+2)

Subs not used: Eastwood, Thompson, Vernam

Attendance, brought to you by Kingsway Hotel, Cleethorpes: 5,807, with 128 visitors