Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
ANDY Taylor's second goal of the season was not enough to stop Grimsby Town from slipping to a seventh defeat in their last eight league games.
Town went down to a 2-1 defeat against Football League new boys Morecambe and also had to deal with their fourth red card in six games when Danny Boshell was sent off for a 75th minute foul.
Town struggled to make any impact in a first half that was dominated by the visitors from the west coast and they deservedly led at half time through Jon Newby's looping shot on 28 minutes.
It got worse for the Mariners four minutes after the restart when a Michael Twiss header finished off a move that Town had made far too easy for their opponents.
Substitute Taylor got one back for Grimsby when he capitalised on a short back pass to slot home from inside the box.
But, try as they might, the Mariners couldn't get the second goal that would have given them a point and Morecambe closed out the game for their second away victory since joining the Football League.
Town were forced to make changes to the team from the midweek victory over Doncaster Rovers.
Justin Whittle missed out after turning his ankle in the celebrations following the penalty shoot-out success against the South Yorkshire side, while Ryan Bennett was forced out after being involved in a car crash on the way to training on Thursday.
Whittle's place was taken by James Hunt, while Bennett's absence meant Jamie Clarke continued on the right of a back three, with Tom Newey on the left and Nick Fenton at the centre.
Nick Hegarty's performance on Tuesday kept him in Alan Buckley's starting XI, this time on the left side of midfield in the role normally filled by Ciaran Toner.The Northern Irishman had to be content with a place on the bench.
Peter Till, Danny Boshell, Hunt and Paul Bolland made up the midfield, while Danny North's hardworking display against Doncaster earned him a second successive start up front, this time alongside Martin Butler, the Walsall loanee returning after being cup-tied in midweek.
Phil Barnes continued in goal, while joining Toner on the bench were Andy Taylor, Gary Montgomery, Gary Jones and Peter Bore.
Morecambe included former Manchester United striker Michael Twiss in their starting line-up, with another familiar name being ex-Chester City defender David Artell.
It was the Shrimps' first ever league visit to Blundell Park, although they did go back to the Lancashire coast with a win the only other time the two sides have met competitively, a penalty shoot-out victory after a 1-1 LDV Vans Trophy draw in October 2005.
Grimsby were desperate for a victory against Sammy McIlroy's side after taking just one point from a possible 21 in the league recently.
Morecambe would be looking to pick up maximum points too after winning only one of their last six in League Two.
The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges before a move involving North and Hegarty led to the winger crossing from the left.Unfortunately for Town, it didn't trouble Morecambe keeper Joe Lewis, who watched it sail over the bar.
Morecambe had the first corner, on the right after 11 minutes.After a short corner routine, the ball eventually came to Jim Bentley inside the box and he headed straight at Barnes.
Town's first opportunity to create some danger came two minutes later when Butler was fouled by Artell on the edge of the area on the right.But Boshell's delivery was too close to Lewis and the Norwich loanee claimed it comfortably.
The away side won another corner when Adam Yates was challenged by Newey.The delivery from Twiss was deflected out for another corner by Hegarty.
Morecambe had enjoyed the better start and over the opening 17 minutes, it was the Shrimps who were controlling possession, looking comfortable on the ball and creating the better opportunities.
Neither goalkeeper had been called into serious action though, although it was the visitors who were threatening most.
Town won another free kick on the edge of the box when North was fouled by Artell on 20 minutes.They couldn't make it count though as Boshell's 20-yard shot hit the visitors' wall.
Another free kick came when Butler was caught by Twiss out on the right but again, the Mariners couldn't create anything from it, with Newey's long ball into the box being easily cleared.
Till picked up a ball inside his own half six minutes later and ran 50 yards before attempting a shot.It hit a Morecambe defender before rebounding to Bolland and his shot was saved by Lewis.
Morecambe went down the field straight afterwards and after bossing the game, they claimed their reward.
The ball was played through to striker JON NEWBY on the right of the goal.He spotted Barnes off his line and looped a shot over the Town stopper and into the net.
Alan Buckley made a change on the half-hour, sending Toner on in place of acting captain James Hunt.
But the game was still being played in the Mariners' half, with all traffic going towards the Pontoon Stand, being attacked by the side from the west coast.
Twiss headed over on 35 minutes before Barnes had to come off his line to collect a free kick as the visitors looked to extend their lead.
Grimsby attacking moves were becoming scarcer as the half wore on and even when they did manage to get into the final third, the Mariners were still not troubling the visiting defence.
Crosses from Till on one side and Toner on the other failed to trouble Lewis before a centre from Till was headed out for a corner.This time Fenton headed over from 10 yards.
One minute of added time was allowed at the end of a first half which had been dominated by Sammy McIlroy's Morecambe side and it was they who deservedly led at the break.
Grimsby had struggled to get into their stride over the opening 45 minutes and never troubled Joe Lewis or his defence, who were enjoying a comfortable afternoon so far.
Town made a second substitution before the restart, with Andy Taylor replacing North in attack as the Mariners looked for the goals that would turn the game around.
But their task became a lot tougher just four minutes after the interval.
Morecambe were allowed to play short passes down the right side and when Damian Allen crossed, there was the unmarked MICHAEL TWISS to head past Barnes and double the visitors' advantage.
It could have been 3-0 when a cross-shot by Twiss almost led to his second goal in as many minutes before a shot from Allen went over the bar.
But then Grimsby were given their lifeline as they halved the deficit on 53 minutes.
A poor backpass sold Lewis short and TAYLOR nipped in on the right of the box to slide the ball home for 2-1.
The goal galvanised Town and their supporters and three minutes later, they almost had their equaliser.
Butler was fouled right on the edge of the box and Newey's free kick from 19 yards curled just wide of the Pontoon goal.
Morecambe weren't to be outdone though and a run into the box by Carl Baker almost led to a shot on target before the Mariners scrambled the ball away for a corner.
Taylor was fouled by Artell out on the left after a long ball from Toner on 61 minutes.Toner's free kick was headed on by Fenton before it was cleared.
Then at the other end, Fenton was adjudged to have fouled Baker in a dangerous position left of the area.Fenton headed away before Till completed the clearance.
Taylor went close again for Town after another long ball forward from Toner.The young striker hit a fierce shot across goal from 15 yards but saw it go just wide of the far post with 63 minutes on the watch.
Taylor's pace was a factor in Grimsby's next attacking move too, which ended in Butler firing over the bar from 18 yards.
Artell became the first man of the afternoon to be yellow carded when he fouled Boshell midway inside the Morecambe half.
Town had looked much brighter since their goal and now it was Morecambe who were being reduced to defending.
But in their moves forward, the visitors were still looking dangerous, with the skill of Twiss causing problems for the Mariners defence.
Boshell saw a shot deflected wide for a corner on 71 minutes after Taylor had again got into a good position inside the area, before Buckley's final substitution saw Gary Jones replace Butler in attack.
Town were now in the ascendancy, looking to level the game and winning a string of corners, putting pressure on the Morecambe defence.
Grimsby's chances of getting something out of the game were dealt a huge blow on 75 minutes when Boshell was shown a straight red card.Stretching for the ball, the Mariners midfielder caught right back Adam Yates with a challenge above the ball.
Referee Mr Miller had no hesitation in brandishing the card and there were no arguments from the Mariners players or Boshell himself.
Morecambe sensed an opportunity to push on against the ten men but after a five minute spell where they appeared to be in shock from the sending-off, the Mariners began to regain their control of possession.
Sammy McIlroy made a substitution as the game moved into the last ten minutes, with Wayne Curtis replacing Newby.
Bolland saw a yellow card for a foul on Allen with five minutes to go as Morecambe tried to keep possession and close out their second away win of the season.
Three added minutes gave the Mariners more time to grab a last-gasp equaliser but Morecambe held firm in the face of Town pressure to leave Grimsby still in deep trouble at the wrong end of League Two.
