Danny Rose’s penalty secured all three points for the Mariners as they came from behind to beat Carlisle United at Blundell Park.

Defender Sam Lavelle’s header gave the away side an early lead as they aimed to move off the bottom of Sky Bet League Two and despite plenty of Town pressure, they still had the advantage at the break.

But the hosts kept working hard and they got their reward just after the hour when Justin Obikwu scored a deserved equaliser.

The turnaround was complete seven minutes from time as Rose stepped up to make it 2-1 and seal a hard-earned victory.

George McEachran replaced Curtis Thompson in the only change to the Grimsby starting line-up following last week’s away win at Bromley, while Darragh Burns was in the matchday squad for the first time as he was named on the bench.

Jordan Wright began in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet forming a three-man defence. Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume again started as wing-backs, with McEachran, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri making up the midfield as Rose was partnered by Obikwu in attack.

Burns was joined among the substitutes by Thompson, Seb Auton, Jayden Luker, Charles Vernam, Luca Barrington and Tyrell Warren.

Carlisle were under the management of Mark Hughes for the first time after he replaced Mike Williamson in the Cumbrians’ dug-out following their 5-1 home defeat by Swindon Town.

They came into the game looking for a win which could take them away from the bottom of the league table, depending on results elsewhere.

FIRST HALF

An early free kick from Hume on the right eventually led to Obikwu hitting a low shot on the turn which Carlisle goalkeeper Gabe Breeze got down to stop.

A free kick at the other end caused no problems as Obikwu headed clear, although a deflected strike by Will Patching earned them a corner on the right. And from the flag, the visitors took the lead as LAVELLE found the space to head past Wright from close range.

Town’s response was good, with Khouri linking up with McJannet to earn a corner on the left. That led to an opportunity for Tharme to use his long throw from the right and the centre-back looked to have caused problems with it until the ball was eventually cleared.

Striker Joe Hugill narrowly failed to get on the end of a chipped cross from former Mariners loanee Elliott Embleton, then Tharme got to another cross from the away left ahead of Hugill.

Josh Williams won a corner in a challenge with Green as the visitors continued to come forward, before a long ball for Obikwu brought a corner at the other end. Green headed Hume’s delivery over the bar.

Patching was spoken to by the referee after a foul on Khouri near the halfway line, before Green found Rose with a low ball into the box but the striker was forced wide and defender Terell Thomas blocked his shot.

Embleton saw a 20-yard strike blocked for a corner on the half-hour but Rodgers headed the ball from the flag away, then a foul on Rose gave Town a free kick on the left, which led to the striker failing to connect with an attempt from the edge of the box.

Obikwu fired wide soon afterwards as the Mariners pushed for an equaliser and they had the ball in the net through Khouri on 34 minutes, although the offside flag had already gone up against Green after Obikwu’s initial shot rebounded to him.

Svanthorsson forced another corner two minutes later but Green’s header from it was off-target, then Breeze stopped a shot from Svanthorsson at the second attempt as Green and Rose both aimed to pounce on the rebound.

Thomas cleared over his own bar for a Town corner after a move down the home left through Hume and Khouri but again, they were unable to make the flag-kick count as McEachran’s shot bounced off Svanthorsson for a goal kick.

Svanthorsson won another corner as the Town pressure continued with half-time looming, before Hugill saw the first yellow card of the afternoon for simulation as Wright raced out of his penalty area to make a challenge.

One added minute was played at the end of the half and despite the Town pressure, Carlisle retained the advantage at the break.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made by either side before the restart and the Mariners won an early corner when Thomas beat Rose to Obikwu’s low cross. It led to another corner, then a third, but the pressure came to an end when Hume lifted a shot over the bar from 25 yards.

Lavelle was booked for bringing Rose down on the home left, although Green headed wide from Hume’s resulting free kick.

Carlisle’s first chance of the second half came on 56 minutes as Kadeem Harris made his way into the box from the left. His low shot was blocked by Rodgers and when the ball broke for Embleton, he was denied by Wright.

And they were made to pay for missing the opportunity as the Mariners found their equaliser on 62 minutes. After a move down the left, Khouri found OBIKWU near the penalty spot and the striker turned before firing past Breeze.

Carlisle boss Hughes responded with a double-substitution as Ethan Robson and Joe Bevan replaced Patching and Wearne.

Town were now looking to complete the turnaround and they had an opening when Svanthorsson won the ball in midfield. Green took it on and burst into the box but stretched under pressure from Charlie McArthur and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Green met a cross from the left soon afterwards but keeper Breeze stretched up to catch the midfielder’s header, then Khouri became the latest to see the yellow card for a foul on Callum Whelan.

A Carlisle corner from the left was headed away for a throw-in by McEachran, before Embleton picked up a booking for bringing Green down.

The game was moving from end to end with 15 minutes to go and a pull-back from Green was deflected away from Obikwu, before a quick break by the visitors was foiled by the Mariners.

Cedwyn Scott replaced Embleton for the visitors, then Rose put the ball into the net but the offside flag had already gone up against him. Warren went on to replace McJannet in the home side’s first change.

Town were given their chance to take the lead on 83 minutes when Svanthorsson went down under a challenge inside the box after a short corner. The referee took a moment to consider his decision before eventually pointing to the penalty spot and after Williams was booked, ROSE stepped up to calmly convert and make it 2-1.

Vernam replaced Obikwu after the goal, then Thompson and Barrington followed him onto the pitch on 87 minutes as Green and Khouri made way.

Breeze got down to stop a 25-yard strike from Vernam as Town aimed to seal the points with a third goal.

Another shot from Vernam was pushed away by the keeper as the game moved into six added minutes and he also blocked Rose’s rebound, this time for a corner.

Ben Barclay replaced Lavelle for Carlisle as they searched for an equaliser but Town looked the more likely to score again and Barrington saw a shot blocked after being found inside the box by Vernam.

In the end though, two goals proved enough for the Mariners to earn the points as they closed out the remainder of the game.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they make the short trip to Doncaster Rovers for a 12.30pm kick-off.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme, McJannet (Warren, 79), Svanthorsson, McEachran, Green (Thompson, 87), Khouri (Barrington, 87), Hume, Rose, Obikwu (Vernam, 83)

Subs not used: Auton, Luker, Burns

Attendance brought to you by Kingsway Hotel Cleethorpes: 5,788