MORECAMBE’S poor away form continued as two second half goals earned Ian Holloway’s Grimsby the points at a wind battered Blundell Park.
The Shrimps had the better of the chances in the first half of a game dominated by the swirling wind and rain but they didn’t take them and were made to pay as the home side scored twice after the breakthrough James Hanson and Josh Benson.
In a game where the first goal was always going to be important, it was the home side that got it through the experienced Hanson.
A long ball was sent forward and Hanson was far more decisive than Morecambe keeper Christoffer Mafoumbi whose hesitation in coming for the loose ball gave Hanson the chance to clip the ball over him and into the net.
The goal saw Grimsby enjoy a spell of dominance with Sam Lavelle clearing off the line from Charles Vernam, Elliott Whitehouse heading a left wing cross wide from close range and Mafoumbi saving smartly from Luke Hendrie before there home side doubled their lead 10 minutes from time.
Referee Trevor Kettle awarded a soft free kick to Grimsby on the edge of the Morecambe area and Benson took advantage of the referee’s decision to fire the ball into the top left hand corner of the Morecambe goal via a wicked deflection.
The Shrimps hit back and pulled one back in injury time from a free kick of their own in the Grimsby box after keeper James McKeown handled a poor Luke Waterfall back pass. A-Jay Leitch-Smith tapped the ball sideways for Adam Phillips and the on loan Burnley man added to his recent goal tally with a fierce shot past a 10 man wall.
The first half saw no goals but plenty of good football and half chances for both sides.
The Shrimps started on the front foot with John O’Sullivan going close with a shot from the edge of the area and Cole Stockton forcing James McKeown into a flying save within the opening two minutes.
Aaron Wildig drilled a right footed effort from 20 yards inches wide and Adam Phillips looped an effort over from the edge of the box as the Shrimps looked a real threat on the counter.
Grimsby were always dangerous themselves however with Elliot Whitehouse heading a Josh Benson corner over from close range and Christoffer Mafoumbi making good saves from Vernam and Hendrie.
Grimsby: McKeown, Hendrie, Warefall, Benson, Glennon, Grandin (rep Clifton 80), Whitehouse (rep Green 68), Pollock, Vernam, Clarke (rep Tilley 87), Hanson. Subs not used: Ohman, Wright, Garmston, Russell.
Morecambe: Mafoumbi, Cooney, Old, Lavelle, Cranston, Brewitt, Phillips, Diagouraga (rep Leitch-Smith 75), O’Sullivan (rep Mendes-Gomes75), Wildig (rep Slew 75), Stockton. Subs not used: Halstead, Mbulu, Kenyon.
Referee: Trevor Kettle.
Attendance: 4,704.