Luca Barrington’s first-half double earned the Mariners a third consecutive away win as they beat Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium.

The Brighton and Hove Albion loanee gave Town the best possible start as he opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock.

Salford equalised through Cole Stockton but Barrington struck again in stoppage time before the break to restore the lead.

Town came under pressure in the second half as Salford pushed forward but the away side defended well to secure maximum points and send the 1,312 travelling fans home happy.

Doug Tharme and Cameron Gardner came in for Harvey Rodgers and Kieran Green as head coach David Artell made two changes to his Grimsby team following last week’s home defeat by Doncaster Rovers.

Jackson Smith continued in goal, with Lewis Cass, Tharme, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume forming the defence. Jason Svanthorsson, George McEachran, Evan Khouri and Barrington were the midfielders and Gardner was paired with Danny Rose in attack.

The substitutes were Seb Auton, Matty Carson, Jayden Luker, Rekeil Pyke, Callum Ainley, Tyrell Warren and Donovan Wilson.

Salford came into the game looking to make it back-to-back wins following last week’s 1-0 home victory over AFC Wimbledon. They were also hoping to move up the Sky Bet League Two table, having started the day in 15th place.

The Mariners made a dream start as they took the lead within a minute of the kick-off. After a long kick forward from Smith gave them a position near the edge of the box, Rose’s lay-off found Barrington and he took a touch before beating goalkeeper Jamie Jones with a neat, low finish.

Smith got down to stop a 20-yard strike from Conor McAleny at the other end as the hosts looked for a reply, before Josh Austerfield fizzed a shot wide of the far post from the right.

Haji Mnoga was shown the first yellow card on eight minutes for a foul on Khouri, although Gardner was caught offside from Hume’s free kick.

A great challenge by Cass stopped Kelly Nmai after a quick break down the Salford left following a Town free kick.

But from the resulting corner, the home side were level again. Smith did well to push a McAleny strike away from goal but Salford kept possession and a chipped cross from Nmai was met by Stockton, who headed home from close range.

Salford had seized the momentum after Town’s early goal but Rose went close to restoring the advantage for the visitors on 23 minutes when his 20-yard effort was tipped over the bar for a corner.

McEleny was shown the yellow card for a foul on McEachran as Town prepared to take a throw-in on the half-hour, then Stockton had a real chance to complete the turnaround for Salford but fired off-target from inside the box.

An opportunity followed at the other end when Hume’s ball down the line found Gardner on the left. He pulled it back across the six-yard line but Rose was unable to connect with a finish.

A clever free kick brought another chance for Town as Hume’s low pass found Gardner but instead of shooting, the striker looked for Rose and the ball was cleared.

Cass was booked for time-wasting over a throw-in six minutes before the break, then McAleny had Salford’s next chance but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at Smith.

Town had an opportunity to put pressure on the home goal with a free kick on the right in the final minute of the 45, although Hume’s low shot was just wide of the near post.

But after the game moved into two added minutes, the Mariners ensured they would be ahead at the interval. Gardner and Svanthorsson were both involved as Town worked the ball across the Salford penalty area, before Barrington took on a shot which beat Jones thanks to a heavy deflection.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and Salford had the first chance through Jon Taylor but his rising half-volley was well-saved by Smith.

Kylian Kouassi looked to have an opportunity to make it 2-2 from close range but his shot was blocked by Smith and the offside flag then went up.

A foul on Rose gave Town a free kick in a promising position on 57 minutes but Barrington’s chip into the box was headed away, before a Salford corner was dealt with at the other end.

Ainley replaced McEachran in Grimsby’s first substitution just after the hour, with Frankie Okoronkwo and Junior Luamba coming on for McAleny and Taylor in the red of Salford soon afterwards.

A powerful shot by Ossama Ashley was deflected onto the far post and out for a corner on 64 minutes as the home side continued to look for an equaliser.

Svanthorsson made way for Warren two minutes later, before Rose headed clear from a Salford corner.

Nmai won another corner soon afterwards but again, it was dealt with by the Town defence.

Austerfield became the latest to be shown the yellow card after a trip on Khouri, before McJannet got on the end of a through-ball but could not beat Jones in the home goal.

Ben Woodburn and Matthew Lund replaced Stockton and Austerfield for Salford on 75 minutes and Town responded with a triple-substitution, sending Wilson, Pyke and Carson on for Rose, Gardner and Barrington.

A foul by McJannet saw him become the latest to be booked on 80 minutes but the free kick caused no problems as Woodburn’s 30-yard shot hit the Town wall.

The Mariners survived a Salford penalty appeal after Nmai went down under contact from Warren, before a home corner led to another one when Woodburn’s shot was deflected wide. This time, Mnoga headed at Smith.

The hosts went closer when Luamba hit the post with a shot across goal, then a foul by Khouri on Nmai saw him pick up a booking. Woodburn’s shot from the resulting free kick brought a save from Smith.

Town were forced to navigate a minimum of seven added minutes as Salford pushed forward in a bid to snatch a draw.

Carson was the latest to see the yellow card five minutes into the additional time but the home side were unable to profit from the free kick and Town defended well for the remainder of the contest to seal a big three points.

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

Town: Smith, Cass, Tharme, McJanne, Hume, Svantthorsson (Warren, 61), McEachran (Ainley, 61), Khouri, Barrington (Carson, 79), Rose (Pyke, 79), Gardner (Wilson, 79)