STRIKER Andy Booth forced himself into Town manager Peter Jackson's thinking for Saturday's crunch League I derby at Barnsley with a solid second-team show.
He didn't make the scoresheet as John Dungworth's side chalked up a third successive win in the the Pontin's Holiday League Division I East meeting (Rob Edwards and Junior Mendes, with a penalty, were the men on target).
But the 31-year-old, on the way back after an ankle injury and illness, looked eager during his 67-minute run-out in front of 123 at the Galpharm Stadium.
Town's win was far more emphatic than the score suggests.
Booth was just off target with a flicked header from an accurate Adnan Ahmed cross after only two minutes and four minutes later, the ball sat up kindly for the frontman, who drove a 30-yard shot straight at Grimsby goalkeeper Paul Fraser.
Akpo Sodje, who made his full League debut against Torquay on Saturday, worked tirelessly while Lee Fowler must have relished the space and time the Mariners presented him as he sprayed magnificent balls left, right and centre at will.
On 18 minutes, Booth showed a deft touch to flick Fowler's long ball through to Edwards, who drove the opener inside the far post.
Matthew Young had a 25-yard shot turned over while Booth was frustrated as his 36th-minute effort crashed off the bar.
Mendes put Town two up from the spot on 38 minutes after Alan Lamb tripped Sodje.
Livewire Ahmed was off target with several chances after he had created good openings with his pace and tidy build-up play.
Grimsby pulled a goal back against the run of play on 51 minutes, Glen Downey side-footing the ball past Phil Senior from close range after Bobby Lewsham's deep right-wing cross deceived the entire Town defence.
But the home side were still comfortable winners.
Town: Senior, Lloyd, Edwards, Fowler, McCombe, Yates, Mendes, Ahmed, Booth (Hardy, 67mins), A Sodje, Young (Huxall, 73mins). Subs not used: Giles, Sheridan, Hand.
