Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
PROMOTED Peterborough United proved to be far too strong for Grimsby Town as they ran out comfortable winners at Blundell Park.
After a quiet start from both teams, the visitors took the lead just after the half-hour through top scorer Aaron McLean.
The visitors continued to threaten up until half time but they had to wait until four minutes after the break to double their advantage, with McLean on target again.
Town rallied and were briefly back in the game when substitute Martin Butler halved the deficit on 63 minutes.
But their joy was short-lived, with Craig-Mackail Smith restoring Peterborough's two-goal lead before Scott Rendle added a fourth to condemn Town to their eighth defeat in 10 league outings.
Alan Buckley again chose to start with a 4-5-1 formation after it so nearly proved to be a success at Bradford City last week.
Two changes were made to the Grimsby starting XI however, with Peter Bore coming in on the right of midfield for the injured Peter Till and Jamie Clarke returning in the centre of the park in place of James Hunt.
Phil Barnes, the hot favourite to scoop the Player of the Year title at next Thursday's awards night, began the game in goal, while Ryan Bennett, Rob Atkinson, Nick Fenton and Tom Newey started in defence.
Bore, Danny Boshell, Clarke, Paul Bolland and Ciaran Toner made up the midfield and Nathan Jarman was again named as the lone frontman after an impressive display at Valley Parade.
Danny North returned to the substitutes' list after playing 75 minutes of the reserves 3-2 win at Lincoln City in midweek.He was joined on the bench by Gary Montgomery, Martin Butler, Matthew Bird and Nick Hegarty.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson could relax, knowing his side were already guaranteed League One football for next season, but the Posh came to Blundell Park still holding aspirations of becoming champions.
They named the division's top scorer, Aaron McLean, amongst their starting XI, while Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd would also pose a threat to the Mariners defence.
Substitute Alfie Potter hit the headlines earlier this year while on loan at Conference South outfit Havant and Waterlooville.His goal against Liverpool stunned the Anfield crowd in a game that briefly threatened to provide the greatest FA Cup upset of all time.
Peterborough were backed by a large contingent of away fans who made the trip to a sunny Cleethorpes in party mood, while there was a generous ovation from the home fans before kick off for the departing Justin Whittle.
The visitors kicked off towards the Pontoon Stand but Town had the first chance to threaten the goals.Toner sent a free kick in from the left but Fenton's header was comfortable for visiting keeper Joe Lewis.
Peterborough won the first corner on five minutes but McLean couldn't connect cleanly with Dean Keates' delivery.
The title-chasing away side began to take the early initiative, with Boyd firing a shot wide from 18 yards two minutes later.
Town had another free kick on 10 minutes but Boshell lost possession on the halfway line after a poor set piece.Peterborough broke through Chris Whelpdale and he squared for Mackail-Smith but the frontman shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Newey was penalised for a foul on Mackail-Smith near his own corner-flag on the quarter-hour.Keates took the resulting free kick but it was easily taken by Barnes.
Then Jarman had Grimsby's first shot on target of the game, using his strength to work an opening before shooting straight at Lewis.
Toner sliced a volley wide from a Clarke free kick six minutes later, moments before Bore won a corner after a driving run down the right.
Fenton couldn't get his head to Boshell's flag-kick after mistiming his jump and again, Lewis wasn't forced into action.
Grimsby were struggling to create any danger, with Jarman often looking isolated on his own in attack.Peterborough had not troubled Barnes at the other end either though and neither side really looked like scoring.
That changed on 32 minutes when the away side took the lead.Tom Williams beat Bore down the Peterborough left and his low cross was swept into the net by McLEAN from inside the area.
The visitors were well on top now as the Mariners struggled to make an impression inside their opponents' half.
Peterborough won three quick corners around the 37th minute mark but Town cleared on each occasion.
The lack of attackers in the Grimsby side meant that Alan Buckley's men were finding it hard to get the ball out of their own half and Peterborough were happy to sit back and wait for a mistake.
That was exactly what happened when a ball was given away by Bolland and the Posh broke quickly.Barnes had to make a good save when a powerful shot came in from Mackail-Smith, the stopper pushing the ball over the bar for a corner.
Buckley chose that moment to make his first change of the afternoon.Danny North was brought on to provide support for Jarman up front, with Danny Boshell the fall-guy as the Mariners reverted to 4-4-2.
It was the men in blue who were piling forward though, looking for a second goal and winning more corners as the Town defence looked increasingly nervy.
North's first contribution was a run down the left, beating Chris Westwood before crossing to the far post.No Town attacker was there to convert the chance but the run at least provided some encouragement to the home fans.
Another good chance was to come with a free kick on the corner of the box on the by-line when Bore went down injured.
Newey chipped towards Bennett at the far post but Craig Morgan beat the youngster to the ball and headed clear for a corner.
As referee Mr Melin blew for half-time, the Mariners would perhaps have been content to be going in trailing by just one goal, while their opponents would be disappointed to be only 1-0 up.
Peterborough had looked threatening every time they attacked after taking the lead and they were showing signs of why they will not be playing their football in this division next term.
Town had done very little damage at the other end, with the hardworking Jarman the only real plus point, although he had been short of support from others in black and white.
No changes were made at the break and Peterborough started the second half as they ended the first, wining a corner within two minutes of the restart.
Boyd then easily beat Bore on the right before standing up a cross, which Barnes took above his head.
The third Posh attack of the half brought about their second goal and made the game safe.
A ball over the top from Boyd was controlled by McLEAN and he shot low into the bottom corner from 12 yards with 49 minutes on the clock.
Mclean was brought down by Fenton 20 yards from goal two minutes later.The shaven-headed centre back was lucky not to see a yellow card for the foul before Keates hit the bar with the free kick.
Peterborough were looking far too strong for the Mariners and the away side, attacking the end housing their own supporters, were threatening to hand out a hammering.
Buckley's response was to make a double substitution on 54 minutes, with Bore and Toner replaced by Martin Butler and Nick Hegarty.
The message from the Town boss seemed to be to go for goals as his side were now playing with three strikers.
Town's first chance of the half came on 57 minutes, with North flicking a long throw from Bennett over the bar.
Then Bennett knocked a through-ball for Butler, who couldn't beat keeper Lewis to it.
The Mariners were finally beginning to show some signs of promise and they had another chance with a free kick on the right.Newey's ball to the far post was headed back across goal by Fenton for North, who could only find Lewis with his header.
Town found their way back into the game with their next chance on 63 minutes, when they halved the deficit.
Bennett found BUTLER with a deep cross and the former-Walsall man struck a shot past Lewis and into the bottom corner of the net from 10 yards.
Alfie Potter came off the bench for Peterborough straight after the goal but Grimsby were enjoying their best period of the game and for the first time, were looking as though they may end the home campaign on a high.
The visitors were not in any mood to surrender their lead though and they could have restored their two-goal cushion when Newton shot from 12 yards with 20 minutes left to play.Barnes was equal to the task though, diving to turn the ball away for a corner.
The away side made no mistake the next time they moved forward though.MACKAIL-SMITH was the man to profit this time, cutting in from the left and toe-prodding past Barnes on 73 minutes.
Town, sensing they had nothing to lose, kept moving forward and they won a free kick 30 yards out two minutes later.Clarke was inches away from reducing the arrears again as his shot hit the bar and bounced out before the ball was headed away for a corner.
McLean was replaced by Scot Rendle for Peterborough with 12 minutes left, the big striker leaving the field to a standing ovation from the visiting fans.
There was time for a fourth goal for the away side when left back Williams overlapped and crossed low for RENDLE to power a shot past Barnes from 12 yards.
Fenton became the first Town player to be yellow-carded for a foul on Rendle by the corner flag with six minutes left to play.
Town finished strongly but they couldn't find a second goal and they must now try to end the season on a high with next week's trip to Hereford.
