Jamie Walker’s two goals proved not to be enough to earn the Mariners a share of the spoils as a late winner meant they were forced to return home from Crewe Alexandra empty-handed.
In a lively first half at the Mornflake Stadium, Town started brightly and got their reward when Walker opened the scoring on six minutes.
But the home side began to take control and they looked set to head into the dressing rooms at the break with the lead after two Emre Tezgel goals turned the scoreline around.
The visitors had other ideas, as Walker grabbed his second goal in first-half stoppage time to turn the momentum in their favour again.
But Town were unable to find a third and instead, Stoke City loanee Tezgel completed his hat-trick with four minutes to go to ensure the points remained in Cheshire.
Tyrell Warren replaced Sam Lavelle in the only change to the Grimsby starting XI following last week’s home victory over Gillingham.
Christy Pym continued in goal, with Harvey Rodgers, Warren, Cameron McJannet and Jayden Sweeney forming the defence. George McEachran sat behind Justin Amaluzor, Kieran Green, Walker and Charles Vernam in midfield, while Jaze Kabia led the attack.
The substitutes were Charlie Casper, Reece Staunton, Jason Svanthorsson, Evan Khouri, Geza Turi, Darragh Burns and Danny Rose.
Crewe boss Lee Bell made two changes after their 3-1 away defeat at Milton Keynes Dons last time out, with Charlie Finney and Calum Agius coming into the line-up.
The Railwaymen were 12th in Sky Bet League Two at kick-off, five points and eight places behind the Mariners, who knew a win could take them to the top of the table if other results also went their way.
FIRST HALF
McJannet headed a cross away after striker Tezgel made an early break into the Town penalty area, before the visitors’ first attack of note saw Walker win a free kick in a promising position. Vernam’s shot was blocked by the Crewe wall.
Amaluzor let fly from 30 yards soon afterwards with a low strike which just missed the target, then Conor Thomas was caught offside as he met a cross from the home right.
The Mariners took the lead from their next attack, as Amaluzor cut inside from the right and played a perfect through-ball for WALKER, who sent a calm, first-time finish across home goalkeeper Tom Booth to find the net.
Town immediately went in search of a second goal and they almost had it when Vernam cut in from the left and hit a curling shot which dropped inches wide of the far post.
Warren headed a Max Sanders free kick behind for a corner as the hosts looked to respond, although Tommi O’Reilly’s delivery from the right dropped onto the roof of Pym’s net.
Another home free kick came when Sweeney brought O’Reilly down on the Crewe right but Sanders’ ball into the box was dealt with and Town broke through Kabia, who was fouled by Owen Lunt.
Great defending by Rodgers saw him get back to stop Tezgel after the striker had dispossessed Warren near the edge of the penalty area, then Green headed a right-wing cross away and Mickey Demetriou fired over the bar from 20 yards.
McJannet turned a low ball from Agius away for a corner on 22 minutes after a neat move from the hosts as they continued to look for an equaliser.
Green then went on to force a corner at the other end but Vernam’s ball from the flag was headed away at the near post.
O’Reilly cut inside from the home right moments later but was unable to work an opening for a shot and a foul on McEachran relieved the pressure on the Town defence.
A mistake by Finney gifted the Mariners another corner on 26 minutes, although they were unable to take advantage of the error as Vernam’s delivery was dealt with.
Instead, Crewe got themselves back on level terms seconds later, when O’Reilly capitalised on a mistake by McJannet and squared the ball for TEZGEL to place a shot past Pym.
Kabia needed treatment after a challenge with Sanders but was passed fit to continue, then Tezgel headed a Finney cross wide under pressure from McJannet.
Crewe had been on top after Town’s early goal but there was almost a chance for Green when Vernam sent a cross in from the left, although the midfielder could not turn the ball towards goal.
The momentum was with the hosts though and they completed the turnaround eight minutes before the break, as a cross from the left fell for O’Reilly at the far post and he pulled the ball back for TEZGEL to slot a neat finish past Pym.
Sanders fired off-target from distance as Crewe continued to come forward, then Pym beat Tezgel to a cross from Finney on the left.
But as the game moved into a minimum of three added minutes, the Mariners drew level again. Great skill by Amaluzor saw him turn into space on the right and he looked up before picking out WALKER for the midfielder to beat Booth from 12 yards.
No further chances came for either side before half-time, with the teams heading into the dressing rooms all-square at 2-2.
SECOND HALF
No changes were made before the restart and Crewe won the first corner of the second half five minutes in after good tracking back by McEachran. O’Reilly’s delivery from the right was turned towards goal by Tezgel but Green was in place to clear off the line.
A foul by Amaluzor on Agius gave the home side a free kick in a dangerous position but Rodgers was able to leave O’Reilly’s ball to drop out at the far post for a goal kick.
Town won a corner at the other end soon afterwards but after Vernam got the ball back from it, his cross-shot was held by keeper Booth.
Thomas was caught offside as he looked to get on the end of a low ball into the Grimsby penalty area, then Sweeney blocked a cross from Tezgel and Pym saved at his near post from Sanders in quick succession.
Another offside decision went against Thomas as he headed over the bar, before Sweeney was inches wide of the far post with a low strike at the other end.
Green launched a break just after the hour as Town looked to reclaim the advantage but after playing the ball to Amaluzor on the right, the winger could not find a team-mate.
O’Reilly created a chance for Agius with a cross from the right but the midfielder’s header went away from goal and nobody in the red of Crewe could get to the loose ball.
A free kick from the home left then led to a foul on Rodgers, before Town made the first substitution of the afternoon on 69 minutes as Khouri replaced Walker in midfield.
Khouri was involved straight away as he created an opening on the edge of the Crewe box which eventually led to Booth catching a cross from the left.
A late challenge on Rodgers gave the visitors a free kick in a shooting position and Vernam went close from it, as after his initial effort hit the home wall, a follow-up strike from the winger dipped just over the bar.
Kabia missed the target from 25 yards after a Mariners break, before McJannet headed an Agius cross clear at the other end, with the game still in the balance at the 75-minute mark.
A foul by Green on Demetriou gave Crewe a free kick on the edge of the Town penalty area but Sanders’ shot flew over Pym’s bar.
Rose and Svanthorsson replaced Kabia and Amaluzor for the Mariners, while Jack Lankester and Matus Holicek came on in place of O’Reilly and Thomas for Crewe as both sides made a double-substitution with 10 minutes remaining.
A low strike from Vernam went just wide of the near post, then the hosts were given another free kick on the edge of the box after a foul by McJannet. This time, it was touched back to Sanders but Khouri raced out of the wall to make an excellent block.
Reece Hutchinson replaced Finney in Crewe’s latest change with five minutes to go and soon afterwards, they were back in front as Sanders crossed to the far post from the right and TEZGEL pounced to head the ball into the corner of the net for his third goal of the afternoon.
Sweeney saw the first yellow card of the game on 89 minutes for his reaction to a foul by Lankester, then Burns and Staunton replaced Warren and Sweeney in Town’s final changes.
Staunton’s first task was to take a free kick from the left as the game moved into at least six added minutes and the left-back’s ball into the box was met by Rose but he could only head wide.
Svanthorsson won another free kick and James Golding replaced Lunt for the hosts before it was taken. Staunton’s delivery was eventually dealt with.
Vernam fired wide from 20 yards as Town kept pushing for a late equaliser but it was not to be for David Artell’s side as Crewe held on for all three points.
Next up for the Mariners is the Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Premier League Brentford at Blundell Park on Tuesday.
Town: Pym, Rodgers, Warren (Burns, 90), McJannet, Sweeney (Staunton, 90), McEachran, Amaluzor (Svanthorsson, 80), Green, Walker (Khouri, 69), Vernam, Kabia (Rose, 80)
Subs not used: Casper, Turi
