Harvey Rodgers’ equaliser earned the Mariners a point from a 1-1 draw with Cheltenham Town and extended their unbeaten run to six games.
In a keenly-contested clash in Gloucestershire, the hosts were given an opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot but Jordan Wright dived the right way to deny George Miller.
Instead, Manchester United loanee Ethan Williams opened the scoring for Cheltenham on 26 minutes.
Town responded well to going behind and although they remained a goal down at the break, they had created some good chances in search of an equaliser.
And eight minutes after the restart, Rodgers was in the right place to grab the goal which ensured their efforts were rewarded with a share of the spoils.
Darragh Burns was handed his first start for Town as he replaced Luca Barrington in the only change to the XI following the home victory over Fleetwood last time out.
Goalkeeper Wright lined up behind a defence of Rodgers, Doug Tharme and Cameron McJannet, with Jason Svanthorsson and Denver Hume again deployed as wing-backs. George McEachran, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri made up the midfield, while Burns joined Danny Rose in attack.
Barrington moved to the bench, where Jake Eastwood was also named on his return to the matchday squad from injury. Lewis Cass, Curtis Thompson, Jayden Luker, Callum Ainley and Tyrell Warren completed the list of substitutes.
Cheltenham came into the game in good form, having won four and drawn two of their last seven in Sky Bet League Two. They were also buoyed by a late comeback to secure a point against table-topping Walsall in midweek.
FIRST HALF
Burns was caught offside to end what had been a promising first Mariners attack of the afternoon, after McEachran had made progress into the Cheltenham half.
The hosts were pushing forward in the early stages but Town had a chance when a quick break led to Green shooting from the edge of the penalty area. Keeper Joe Day made a good save to deny the midfielder and Hume’s resulting corner was cleared after Tharme had headed the ball on at the near post.
Khouri won another corner when his 25-yard strike took a deflection, before Green saw the first yellow card on 13 minutes for a high challenge on Timothee Dieng.
Tharme won an important header ahead of striker Miller at the other end after a cross from Williams was nodded back across goal, before McJannet blocked an attempt by Jordan Thomas.
Rose sent a header though to Day after a mis-kicked clearance from Arkell Jude-Boyd, then Hume was booked for pulling Thomas back as he aimed to break into the box from the Cheltenham right. Williams’ sent the free kick across and after an appeal from the home fans for a handball, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Miller stepped up to take it but Wright dived to his left to make a brilliant save.
Town’s luck was not to last though, as Cheltenham’s pressure continued and it brought them the opening goal. A corner from the left was worked along the ground to WILLIAMS and he placed a low strike through a crowded penalty area, past Wright and into the far corner of the net from 20 yards.
Tharme headed a Jude-Boyd cross clear as the hosts remained on top at the half-hour mark, before Wright beat Miller to a low, driven cross from Ethon Archer on the right.
Rodgers sent a strike from distance just wide soon afterwards as Town aimed to get themselves level again, then a good defensive header stopped Rose from getting on the end of a Hume cross.
A foul on Tharme gave the visitors another opportunity to get the ball into the danger zone, although Hume’s free kick was headed through to Day.
The Mariners kept attacking and a better chance came on 35 minutes when Svanthorsson played a defence-splitting pass for Khouri. The midfielder was unable to make it count though, as Day got down to stop his low shot.
An away corner followed five minutes later and it eventually led to another one when McJannet’s header was tipped over the bar by Day. This time, Green headed over the bar from close range.
The momentum was with Town as they chased an equaliser before half-time but a foul by McEachran on Miller gave Cheltenham a chance to create danger from a free kick inside the Grimsby half. They could not take advantage, however, as the offside flag went up against Miller.
Town had a free kick of their own when Burns was brought down as the half moved into a minimum of three added minutes. Hume’s delivery looked to have been dealt with but the visitors kept possession until Rose headed through to Day.
Hume won a corner at the end of a slick move down the left and from it, they kept possession and patiently looked for an opening but were unable to find one as the hosts got men behind the ball.
No further chances came before the referee’s half-time whistle, so the home side remained 1-0 up at the break.
SECOND HALF
No changes were made before the restart and an early Hume free kick was headed behind for a corner, which Cheltenham eventually cleared.
Green headed wide from another Hume free kick as Town’s strong start to the second half continued.
And eight minutes in, the Mariners got their equaliser. A quickly-taken throw-in from the right saw Green find Svanthorsson and when the ball ricocheted off keeper Day, RODGERS was in the right place to send a calm finish into the net.
Miller had an opportunity at the other end as the hosts immediately went in search of reclaiming the advantage, although he could not make it count.
And the striker was one of two to be replaced soon afterwards in a double-substitution by home boss Michael Flynn. Ashley Hay and Liam Kinsella were both sent on, with Dieng the other to make way.
A long throw from Tharme was headed away just before the hour, before Cheltenham were given an opportunity to retake the lead. Wright’s attempted pass to Rogers was intercepted by Archer but with an open goal ahead of him, his shot lacked power and the keeper got back to stop it.
Burns won a corner at the other end but Town were unable to turn it into a chance in front of goal, before Wright claimed a Jude-Boyd cross to end a spell of home possession.
A shot from Burns was blocked as the game moved from end to end, then Thompson and Luker replaced McEachran and Burns in the Mariners’ first changes on 69 minutes. Liam Dulson came on for Thomas in the red and white of Cheltenham at the same time.
A Rose volley took a deflection and looped over the bar for a corner after Green’s cross from deep was helped on. The flag-kick was cleared but Town worked the ball back and the pressure continued with a Tharme long throw from the right. From it, the ball broke for Thompson but he sent his diving header wide.
Warren came on for Rodgers with 15 minutes to go, then striker Matt Taylor replaced Archer for Cheltenham six minutes later.
Rose won a free kick on the left soon afterwards and after Jude-Boyd was booked, Hume’s delivery broke for Svanthorsson to fire wide from the edge of the box.
A stoppage came for Tharme to receive treatment, before Svanthorsson became the latest to see the yellow card with five minutes remaining.
A home corner was put behind by Hume for another one and this time, Hay’s header was just off-target.
Both sides were still looking to win the game as the clock ticked down and after the game moved into at least four added minutes, a foul on Rose gave Town another free kick in a promising position, to the right of centre. Hume’s delivery towards the far post was headed behind for a corner by Sam Stubbs.
Cass replaced Green for the closing seconds of the game and there was to be one last chance for the Mariners when Hume sent a cross over from the left. Rose helped it on to Tharme and the centre-back turned it towards goal but Day got down to keep the ball out.
That meant both sides had to settle for a point apiece after an entertaining encounter between two well-matched teams.
Town are next in action on Tuesday, when Tranmere Rovers will be the visitors to Blundell Park.
Town: Wright, Rodgers (Warren, 75), Tharme, McJannet, Svanthorsson, McEachran (Thompson, 69), Green (Cass, 90+4), Khouri, Hume, Burns (Luker, 69), Rose
Subs not used: Eastwood, Barrington, Ainley
