Three goals in nine first-half minutes sent the Mariners on their way to victory over Salford City at Blundell Park.

The visitors started brightly but a clinical display of finishing saw Town put themselves firmly in charge by the interval.

Kieran Green marked his return to the starting line-up with the opening goal as he headed home from a corner on 33 minutes, before Charles Vernam doubled the hosts’ advantage and Jude Soonsup-Bell added a third.

Salford pulled one back after the break through substitute Cole Stockton but they never seriously threatened a comeback as Town made it back-to-back wins.

Green replaced Jamie Walker in the only change to the Grimsby XI that started the victory at Notts County on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Jackson Smith was protected by a defence of Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet and Jayden Sweeney, while Geza Turi sat behind a midfield of Darragh Burns, Green, Evan Khouri and Vernam as Soonsup-Bell again led the attack.

Walker was named on the bench alongside Jaze Kabia, Justin Amaluzor, Reece Staunton, George McEachran, Andy Cook and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming.

Salford were unchanged from their 1-0 away victory at Colchester United, with Saturday’s goalscorer Stockton again named among the substitutes as Ryan Graydon was tasked with leading the line.

The Ammies held the final Sky Bet League Two play-off position at kick-off, sitting seventh in the table, with the Mariners just three points behind in 11th.

FIRST HALF

The visitors had the first opportunity on five minutes when a quick break led to Graydon getting the ball in space on the right.  He lifted it over Smith from the edge of the penalty area but saw it land on the roof of the net.

Alfie Donnington sent a first-time effort just wide on 10 minutes after a Zach Awe long throw broke for him inside the box, then Salford were forced into an early change when Kelly N’Mai pulled up with an injury.  He was replaced by Stockton.

Goalkeeper Matt Young had to race off his line to beat Soonsup-Bell to a long ball as the Mariners threatened for the first time, before the offside flag went up against Vernam from their next attack.

Green battled well to win an attacking throw-in near the corner flag but Town were unable to turn it into a chance in front of goal, then Rosaire Longelo cut inside from the right at the other end and let fly with a 25-yard strike which whistled over Smith’s bar.

The away side were on top at the midway point of the first half and they won a corner on the right, although Kacurri got to the ball from it first to head clear.

Stockton was caught offside as he ran onto a ball over the top, then a Green cross from the Town right went out for a goal kick.

A foul by Khouri on Ben Woodburn gave the visitors a free kick inside the Grimsby half but it was well-defended, with Khouri eventually blocking a strike from Graydon.

Another free kick, this time from wide on the away right, was also dealt with, before good pressure by Soonsup-Bell saw him win a corner on the home left on 33 minutes.  And from it, the Mariners took the lead, as Vernam’s delivery picked out GREEN to head past Young at the near post.

Woodburn stayed down after a challenge with Burns on the halfway line and was eventually replaced by Ossama Ashley as the visitors were forced into a second change on 39 minutes.

Shortly after play resumed, the Mariners doubled their advantage.  An attempted chip into the box by Green took a big deflection and Khouri played the loose ball back to VERNAM, who beat Young with a low strike from 12 yards.

Town were now fully in charge as half-time loomed and they added to their lead with a third goal on 42 minutes.  Burns looked up from the right and played a perfect cross for SOONSUP-BELL to head home and register his first goal for the club.

Smith claimed a comfortable catch from a Luke Garbutt cross as the first half moved into at least seven added minutes, then a further stoppage came for Khouri to receive treatment after a challenge with Longelo.

No further chances came before the half-time whistle, with the Mariners taking a commanding 3-0 lead into the dressing rooms at the break.

SECOND HALF

Oliver Turton replaced Dorrington for Salford ahead of the restart and Ashley saw an early yellow card for a foul on Turi.

Eight minutes in, the visitors reduced their deficit to two goals as they pulled one back.  Longelo’s fierce strike from distance bounced back off the bar and STOCKTON reacted the quickest to prod the rebound into the net.

Fabio Borini replaced Ashley shortly after the goal in a third forced change for Salford, before defender Brandon Cooper’s diving header saw him beat Soonsup-Bell to a through-ball and get it back to Young.

Josh Austerfield was booked for a foul on Khouri which gave Town a free kick midway inside the away half on 59 minutes but after Vernam’s ball into the box was not held by Young, the keeper was eventually given a free kick for a foul.

Cook replaced Soonsup-Bell in Grimsby’s first substitution on the hour, before Stockton became the latest to see the yellow card for a high foot on McJannet.

Green was caught offside from Town’s next attack, then a good block by Sweeney stopped Stockton at the other end, at the expense of a corner.  The Mariners were unable to clear it but the offside flag went up against Awe.

A free kick from the away right then led to an opening at the other end as Cook broke down the right but when he looked for Vernam with a cross, the ball was headed back to Young.

A Town corner followed on 67 minutes when Green’s cross was put behind by Cooper and from it, Burns picked out Cook but his header was saved.

McEachran replaced Khouri after the midfielder went down off the ball, with Staunton coming on for Rodgers at the same time.

Town were looking for a fourth goal and Cook had a header saved by Young, before further changes saw Kabia and Walker replace Vernam and Turi.

A 20-yard volley from Borini flew just over the bar with seven minutes to go as Salford aimed to get themselves back within one goal.

McJannet then went close at the other end but his near-post header from a Staunton corner was blocked.

Town were continuing to push for more goals as the clock ticked down and another corner came on 88 minutes but Staunton’s delivery was eventually cleared.  Salford broke but Sweeney got back to put in a good challenge and stop Graydon.

Jorge Grant was shown the yellow card for a foul on Sweeney as the game moved into a minimum of six added minutes, although Staunton’s free kick from the right was headed clear.

After late bookings for Walker and Maldini following fouls, Town saw out the remainder of the contest to seal another big three points and move to within a point of the play-off places.

The next test for the Mariners comes on Saturday, when league leaders Bromley visit Blundell Park for a 12.30pm kick-off.

Town: Smith, Rodgers (Staunton, 70), Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney, Turi (Walker, 78), Burns, Green, Khouri (McEachran, 70), Vernam (Kabia, 78), Soonsup-Bell (Cook, 60)

Subs not used: Amaluzor, Sellars-Fleming

UTM