Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
GRIMSBY Town moved into the top half of the League Two table for the first time since the opening day of the season with this narrow victory over struggling Bury.
Jamie Clarke scored the goal for Alan Buckley's men with what was possibly the only genuine moment of quality in a disappointing first half.
The visitors had dominated for long periods and Town were indebted to Phil Barnes for two great saves that kept them out.
The Mariners were better after the break but still, there were few reasons for excitement amongst the home supporters as Bury keeper Jim Provett enjoyed a quiet evening.
The away team had their chances to get back into the game but they failed to take them and so Town were able to keep another clean sheet.
And the result means that the Mariners are now unbeaten in eight games and have conceded just three goals in that sequence.
Grimsby were forced to make a change to the team that drew with Shrewsbury on Saturday, with Paul Bolland ruled out through injury.
Danny Boshell was recalled to the starting XI in his place, taking up Bolland's usual role at the heart of Town's three-man midfield.
Barnes began in goal behind the settled back five of Sam Hird, Rob Atkinson, Nick Fenton, Tom Newey and Nick Hegarty.
Boshell was joined in midfield by Clarke and James Hunt, while in-form striker Danny North was partnered in attack by Gary Jones.
The Grimsby substitutes were Gary Montgomery, Peter Till, Andy Taylor, Ryan Bennett and Peter Bore.
Bury made the trip from Greater Manchester having exited the FA Cup with a defeat by Southampton on Saturday.
Their main threat would be likely to come from prolific striker Andy Bishop, who had scored 13 goals despite an injury hit campaign.
Another familiar face in the Shakers' side was that of Ben Futcher.The ex-Mariners centre-back joined from Peterborough last summer and would be dangerous, particularly from set pieces.
Further firepower could come from the bench in the shape of former Lincoln City striker Simon Yeo, who has already faced Grimsby this season in the colours of Chester City.
Grimsby went into the game looking to extend a sequence of seven games without defeat, going back to the 1-0 victory over Lincoln City at the end of December.
Their visitors had not enjoyed such good fortunes in recent weeks, having gone nine league games without registering a win.
The game kicked off in wet and windy conditions in front of a smaller than average crowd and the first six minutes passed without either team managing to get the ball into the final third.
The first sign of promise came from Bury's Nicky Adams, who beat Newey on the Town left before his low cross was cleared by Atkinson.
Barnes then conceded the first corner on 10 minutes after David Buchanon's cross was deflected up into the air.
Town had started slowly, with the ball in the air too often for Alan Buckley's liking, and 20th placed Bury seemed to grow in confidence as they controlled the opening quarter of an hour.
Grimsby's first corner came on 15 minutes after Futcher had cleared a Hegarty cross but the Mariners couldn't create a chance in front of goal from Hegarty's flag-kick.
Bury won a free kick on the edge of the Mariners penalty area two minutes later but Barnes was able to stand and watch as Brian Barry-Murphy's shot hit the side netting.
Then Bishop beat Fenton and advanced into the box before his shot was comfortably stopped by Barnes, diving to his left.
Jones flicked a long ball on to North on 20 minutes but Futcher was able to prod the ball out for a corner.
Town had a spell of possession around the 28th minute and the move eventually ended with Hunt having a shot saved from inside the area as visiting keeper Provett was called into action for the first time in the game.
Hegarty won a corner for the Mariners just after the half-hour but again, they couldn't convert and Bury broke clear.
Their attack ended with Barnes saving well with his feet from Richie Baker but the Bury man should have done better from 12 yards.
Futcher found himself free inside the six-yard box with 36 minutes on the clock but he couldn't find the space to shoot.Bishop took the ball on and his attempt was off target.
By now, the home supporters around Blundell Park were beginning to express their frustration as the visitors continued to control possession and create the better chances.
But those supporters would be on their feet moments later when the Mariners took the lead against the run of play with a 39th minute goal out of nothing.
CLARKE picked the ball up 25 yards out and to the left of goal.He looked up and struck a shot which beat Provett and found the back of the net after hitting the inside of the post.
Grimsby could have doubled their advantage two minutes before the break but Fenton powered his header just over the bar from a corner from the right.
Two minutes of added time were signalled and Bury should have been on level terms going into half time after Bishop turned and shot from 12 yards.Barnes was alert to the danger and made a good save with his feet.
That proved to be the last action of what had been a largely forgettable first half, where the visitors would have felt the scores should at least have been level.
Chris Brass's side dominated for long periods, controlling possession and creating the better chances.
Town had generally lacked in quality but crucially, they had the advantage at the interval after the one moment of class from Clarke.
No substitutions were made before the restart and the away side began as they had played the first half, attacking the Mariners in search of what would be a deserved equaliser.
Barry-Murphy had a free kick in a similar position to the one he took earlier in the game, although this time, Barnes had to punch clear.
At the other end, Hegarty appealed for a penalty after going down inside the box but referee Graham Laws waved play on.
Town won a corner on 59 minutes and Boshell's kick was aimed towards Jones.Paul Scott headed behind for another corner on the opposite side and this time Hegarty's kick cleared everybody and curled wide for a goal kick.
Then Provett failed to deal with a Hegarty header but North wasn't alert enough to capitalise on the error .
The Mariners were now beginning to dominate and more and more of the game was being played towards the Osmond Stand, which was attacked by Alan Buckley's side.
The visitors were given another chance to level the scores with a free kick in a central position 25 yards from goal.
Baker's kick was poor though and Barnes was able to gather comfortably.
The first change of the evening saw Bury introduce Simon Yeo in place of Baker on 67 minutes.
The former Lincoln striker turned and shot from 20 yards six minutes later as he looked to make his mark on the game but the attempt was easy for Barnes.
Town had a free kick inside their opponents' half after North was fouled by Scott but instead of looking to get the ball into the box, the Mariners instead tried to build up an attack by keeping possession.
Bury chose the other approach when they had a similar set piece moments later, launching the ball into the Grimsby area, but Yeo's shot was well off-target.
And Yeo was involved again seconds afterwards, firing wide from 12 yards after a break by Adams as the side from Gigg Lane continued to ask questions of the Town defence.
Chris Brass used his second substitution to send Jack Dorney on in place of Barry-Murphy before Yeo saw another shot bounce wide.
Town made their first change in personnel with seven minutes to go, when Ryan Bennett came on for Hird.
And the second substitution wasn't far behind, with Andy Taylor replacing the hardworking North for the last three minutes.
Taylor's first contribution was to flick a ball past Futcher but before he could get onto it, the giant centre-back brought him down.Town were awarded the free kick but the referee again chose to keep his yellow card in his pocket.
Three additional minutes were signalled by the fourth official and Boshell had to block a shot by Bishop from 25 yards as the visitors piled forward looking to square the match.
Adams saw a header loop wide but Town held on to claim another win and with it, the three league points that took them up a place into 12th in the League Two table.
