Match report by David Elliott at Millmoor

GRIMSBY Town's winless streak continued as they were beaten by Rotherham United at Millmoor.

A goal in each half saw the hosts continue their impressive home record, which has seen only one League Two side go away with three points this season.

And to compound Town's misery, they were forced to play out the last half-hour with ten men after Nick Fenton was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Fenton had scored Town's goal on 52 minutes, his far-post header equalising Mark Hudson's first half opener.

The goal came in the middle of Town's best period of the game and until the sending-off, there was hope amongst the travelling Mariners supporters that their side could get something to take back to North East Lincolnshire.

But Chris O'Grady struck with 13 minutes left to give his side all three points and condemn Town to a fifth defeat in their last six league outings.

Alan Buckley was forced to make changes for the game, with ex-Rotherham goalkeeper Gary Montgomery coming in for his first Town start in place of the suspended Phil Barnes, while striker Martin Butler was forced to miss out due to illness.

Gary Jones replaced the Walsall loanee, making a rare start up front on his own as Town began with a 4-5-1 formation.

Shaleum Logan, Nick Fenton, Justin Whittle and Tom Newey made up the unchanged back four in front of Montgomery, while there was a surprise inclusion in midfield, with Nick Hegarty starting alongside James Hunt and Danny Boshell in the centre of the park.

Ciaran Toner kept his regular spot on the left wing, with Peter Till in his usual position on the right.

Buckley chose not to include a reserve keeper on the bench, instead picking Jamie Clarke, Ryan Bennett, Peter Bore, Andy Taylor and Nathan Jarman as his substitutes.

Rotherham started with a 4-3-3 formation and one of their main threats would come from Chris O'Grady, who scored the Millers goal the last time Town were here, in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win last month.

Danny Harrison would also be one to watch, having scored both goals in Rotherham's 2-0 win at Dagenham and Redbridge last week.

The two sides came into this game on contrasting runs, with Rotherham's last league defeat coming on 29 September, the same day as the Mariners last collected three points.

Town had only won twice in the league prior to this trip to South Yorkshire, while Mark Robins' team had only lost twice.

The referee, Grant Hegley, had shown only four yellow cards in six games so far this season, with his last sending off as long ago as December 2005.

Town kicked off towards their 747 travelling supporters and won the first corner in the second minute.Fenton powered a header towards goal but saw it cleared off the line.

Then the home side's first effort on goal forced a save from Montgomery, diving to his left to stop Harrison's 20-yard drive.

The hosts were awarded a free kick on eight minutes after Fenton pulled the shirt of Newsham just outside the box.

After cries from the home supporters for a red card, Fenton was booked before Stephen Brogan's shot from the set-piece was cleared by Boshell after it had hit the wall.

Town then almost forced an opening when Logan ran from halfway before playing a one-two with Toner but the youngster couldn't get a shot on goal, leaving the ball to run through to home keeper Andy Warrington.

Rotherham won a corner on 14 minutes after Logan blocked a cross from Pablo Mills but Jones was there to head the ball clear of danger.

The hosts kept the pressure on the Mariners backline though with another corner on the opposite side.This time the ball came to Mills, whose shot was blocked by Toner.Loud appeals for handball against the Northern Irishman were heard from the home fans behind the goal but the referee allowed Town to play on.

Town won a free kick on 18 minutes in a central position after Hegarty was fouled by Newsham.Newey's shot from 25 yards forced Warrington to tip the ball over his bar.

Rotherham had another corner eight minutes later and this time, Mills headed well wide from Mark Hudson's kick.

Town then had a let-off when Whittle's back-pass towards Montgomery fell short.Luckily for the Mariners, the keeper was alert and rushed out of his area to clear under pressure from striker Ryan Taylor.

The Millers appeared to be getting closer to forging an opening goal, with Graham Coughlan heading over from a Brogan cross and Taylor going close again.

Toner forced Warrington into action with a speculative effort from 30 yards on 37 minutes but the Rotherham stopper gathered it comfortably.

But then the home side got their breakthrough after threatening it for much of the half.

Marc Newsham slipped the ball through to MARK HUDSON inside the Mariners penalty area and he slotted past Montgomery from a narrow angle for his first ever goal with 38 minutes on the stopwatch.

The game stopped briefly for Taylor to receive treatment after he picked up a knock midway inside the Town half.

With two minutes to go before the break, the Mariners had a golden chance to hit back and restore parity.

Logan picked the ball up on the right and floated a cross towards Jones.Alone at the far post, the big striker only had to beat Warrington with a header from eight yards but instead, he put it over the bar.

One minute of stoppage time was allowed before Mr Hegley brought the first half to a close.Rotherham had probably deserved their lead but Town would have been disappointed not to convert the chance through Jones that would have seen them level at the interval.

Alan Buckley made a change before the start of the second half, sending Ryan Bennett on in place of Till.Bennett would slot in at right back, with Logan taking Till's role on the right of midfield.

Town won a free kick for a foul on Toner on the left two minutes after the restart.Toner crossed the ball in but Whittle just failed to make contact with a header and the ball ran wide for a goal kick.

The Mariners were then given a set-piece on the other side after Jones was fouled. This time Newey sent the ball in but Warrington's dive beat Jones to the ball, the Rotherham keeper punching clear before the Town frontman could get on the end of the cross.

Grimsby had enjoyed a good start to the second half and it soon led to an equalising goal.

Town won a corner on 52 minutes after a long throw from Bennett had been cleared.

As the ball came over towards the far post, NICK FENTON rose to power a header past Warrington and level the scores.

Just as they looked to be gaining in confidence and controlling the game, the Mariners were dealt a huge blow when Fenton was red carded for a second bookable offence as he fouled Hudson right in front of the referee.

After not brandishing a red card for almost two years, Mr Hegley had no option but to dismiss the centre back, who had gone from hero to villain in under ten minutes.

Town would have to play the remaining half an hour with ten men but Alan Buckley responded in a positive way, bringing on an extra forward in the shape of Andy Taylor in place of Nick Hegarty as he looked to go for the three points rather than try to hang on for one.

Mark Robins made the next tactical move, replacing Ryan Taylor with Jamie Yates on 61 minutes.

Newey was the next to go into the book for a foul out on the right before Hudson fired over the bar for the hosts from 18 yards.

After a spell of possession, Rotherham were the next to have a shot on target when, on 72 minutes, Yates swivelled on the edge of the box before hitting a weak effort that was easy for Montgomery.

The Town keeper had to be at his best two minutes later though, diving to his left to tip over a curling shot hit by Mills that looked destined for the top corner.

But he could do nothing on 77 minutes, when a deep cross from Ian Sharps dropped for CHRIS O'GRADY and he side-footed into the net to give Rotherham the lead for the second time.

Three minutes later, Hudson was the target of a long ball into the Town box but Montgomery did well to come off his line and deny the midfielder.

Town's last substitution was to give Peter Bore a chance to impress for the last eight minutes in place of Logan.

Rotherham then brought Mark Joseph on for Marc Newsham with two minutes remaining.

And it was the home side who were ending the game on the front foot, looking for a third goal that would put the game beyond doubt.

Town battled on as the match moved into four minutes of stoppage time but they had struggled to create anything in front of goal since going down to ten men.

A late rally by the Mariners saw Bennett launch a long throw into the box but the ball was eventually cleared by the home defence.

Rotherham won a corner but as soon as it was taken, the referee blew for full time, extending the Millers' unbeaten run to six games and sending them into a play-off position.

As for the Mariners, they have now gone six games without securing a three-point haul and they face a huge task at Milton Keynes on Tuesday if that run is to be halted.