The Mariners made just one change from the side that was beaten by Hartlepool in midweek, Peter Bore coming in for Peter Beagrie.

Town got off to the worst possible start as Darlington took the lead with just 8 minutes on the clock. Smith got on the end of a pass from Armstrong and drilled the ball past Barnes from the edge of the box.

Town tried to hit back and the Darlington keeper recovered after fumbling a fierce Bolland shot.

But it was Smith who made it two on 25 minutes with another good finish. Some slick passing and some poor defending allowed Smith to run through the Town defence before slotting the ball past Barnes.

Toner saw his effort from range deflected for a corner, with Russell scrambling across the goal.

Fenton should have done better with a header from a corner minutes later. The former Doncaster defender was unchallenged as he rose but his header was wide of the post.

Toner had a good chance on 38 minutes from a free kick, but the Irishman's effort from 25 yards was over the bar.

And Thorpe got on the end of a Croft cross but the striker's header was turned away by Russell.

Half-Time: Darlington 2 Grimsby Town 0

Town came out for the second half fighting, and Thorpe had the ball in the back of the net in the 50th minute after a good through ball by Jones, but the REFEREE ruled out the goal for an offside.

GOAL! The Mariners were thrown a lifeline on 64 minutes though, when Holloway brought Thorpe down in the box. Holloway was red carded for his sins and Toner stepped up to coolly slot the ball past Russell.

Town were beginning to find a lot of space in the midfield and toner's ball into the box was saved by Russell. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Croft who crashed his effort against the bar.

On 80 minutes, Thorpe and Bore combined well and Thorpe's ball into the box found the head of Ravenhill, but the midfielder should have done better with his header which was wide.

GOAL! But a minute later Town were level. Thorpe got on the end of a good through ball but his effort was saved by Russell, but Ravenhill was on hand do score his first goal for the Mariners.

And the Mariners had a penalty claim soon after when Bolland looked to be brought down in the box.

The referee added 3 minutes of added on time but the Mariners couldn't grab a winner.