Danny Rose’s penalty earned the Mariners a point as they recovered from going a goal down to draw with Tranmere Rovers at Blundell Park.

In an entertaining battle between two sides looking for points for different reasons, it was Tranmere who took an early lead through midfielder Sam Finley.

The visitors aimed to add to their advantage in a spirited display as they looked to edge further away from relegation danger but Town improved after half-time and got their reward when Rose equalised from the spot.

Both teams pushed for a winning goal but it was not to come, although with other results going in their favour, the Mariners moved to within two points of the play-off places as they made it seven games unbeaten.

Three changes were made to the Grimsby starting XI after Saturday’s draw at Cheltenham Town, with Jayden Luker, Curtis Thompson and Justin Obikwu coming in for Kieran Green, Evan Khouri and Darragh Burns.

Jordan Wright started in goal, behind a defence of Harvey Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet. Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume began in wing-back roles, as George McEachran, Luker and Thompson completed the midfield. Obikwu slotted in alongside skipper Rose in attack.

Green, Khouri and Burns were all named on the bench, with Jake Eastwood, Luca Barrington, Callum Ainley and Tyrell Warren joining them as substitutes.

Tranmere travelled east from Merseyside in search of a vital victory in their battle to avoid the drop to the National League, with the men from Prenton Park sitting just three points ahead of Sky Bet League Two’s bottom two at kick-off.

Andy Crosby was placed in temporary charge after boss Nigel Adkins stepped down following last week’s defeat by Accrington Stanley and he would look to the likes of former Mariners loanees Connor Jennings and Kristian Dennis to cause problems for the home defence.

FIRST HALF

Tranmere keeper Luke McGee came off his line to punch an early Hume free kick away and after Town kept possession, Tharme’s first long throw of the evening was also dealt with.

Obikwu saw a shot on the turn blocked after another long throw broke for him at the far post as the hosts’ bright opening to the contest continued.

But when the deadlock was broken on 10 minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead from their first opening of the game. Josh Hawkes was denied by a brilliant goal-line block from Hume but the ball broke for Finley and he found the net from 20 yards.

Luker was just wide from a similar distance at the other end after good play by McEachran as Town aimed to respond, before Jennings called Wright into action to push a shot from the edge of the box away from goal.

Tranmere won a corner on 25 minutes but they were unable to make it count, then McEachran saw the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Finley.

McGee did well to come off his line and make a block from Svanthorsson as he looked to get on the end of a Rose cross, before a foul on McEachran by Jennings gave Town a free kick near the halfway line. It was played short to Hume and his delivery into the box was headed towards goal, only for McGee to deny Svanthorsson once again. The ball eventually broke for Thompson but his shot was also blocked.

A Town corner from the right on 36 minutes did not lead to a chance in front of goal, then Svanthorsson did well to win a challenge with Omari Patrick and stop a Tranmere attack at the other end.

Warren replaced Tharme as the hosts made the first substitution four minutes before the break, then a foul on Hume gave them a free kick on the left. Hume took it himself but the away side cleared their lines.

Four added minutes were played at the end of the first half as the Mariners looked for an equaliser and they had an opportunity through Luker but he could only fire wide after being found inside the box by Warren.

That proved to be the last chance for Town to get themselves level before the break as Tranmere remained solid at the back and as a result, went in with the advantage.

SECOND HALF

Barrington replaced Obikwu in Grimsby’s second change before the restart and the home side won an early corner through Warren on the right. Hume’s delivery was headed away by Jennings but after Town kept possession, Luker’s cross dropped out for a goal kick.

McJannet put a good block to deny Dennis as the away side aimed to take advantage of a mistake in defence, then Khouri became the latest to be sent on in the black and white stripes as Thompson made way.

Cameron Norman won the ball from Barrington as the attacker shaped to shoot, before Svanthorsson created another opening for the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, whose strike from a narrow angle was blocked by keeper McGee for a corner.

Josh Davison, Jake Garrett and Harvey Saunders replaced Dennis, Jennings and Regan Hendry in a triple-substitution for Tranmere on 65 minutes, as the visitors made attacking changes in a bid to add to their lead.

But soon afterwards, the Mariners had their lifeline when a low cross from Hume bounced up and hit the arm of Chris Merrie as he attempted to clear it. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and ROSE stepped up to send McGee the wrong way and make it 1-1.

Great work by Svanthorsson saw him chase back 40 yards to force an error from Patrick as Tranmere aimed to snatch the advantage back again, before Josh Hawkes fired wide of the near post following a mistake in the Town defence.

A ball into the box from Khouri then proved to be just too far ahead of the stretching Rose as both sides pushed forward in search of all three points.

Town had the momentum as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes and Green came on for Luker as they looked for a winning goal.

Tranmere were still looking to win the game as well and Warren had to make an important challenge as Garrett aimed to pounce inside the penalty area.

A minimum of seven added minutes gave both sides furrter opportunity to find that crucial winning goal.

Svanthorsson showed great strength to win a corner in the last of the additional minute but Town were unable to make it count and with it went their chances of securing maximum points as the referee’s final whistle blew.

Instead, it was a point each and Town will now turn their attention to Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off away at Walsall.

Town: Wright, Rodgers, Tharme (Warren, 41), McJannet, Svanthorsson, McEachran, Luker (Green, 81), Thompson (Khouri, 58), Hume, Rose, Obikwu (Barrington, 46)

Subs not used: Eastwood, Ainley, Burns

Attendance bought to you by Kingsway Hotel, Cleethorpes: 4,854