Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park

GRIMSBY Town dominated for long periods but could not find the killer instinct to claim three points against bottom-of-the-table Darlington.

The Mariners looked dangerous in the early stages and they took the lead through Rob Atkinson on 20 minutes.

Town had the ball for most of the remaining time until the interval but they were unable to find the second goal they will feel their dominance merited.

And it was a similar story after the break, with the Mariners controlling possession but not testing visiting keeper Russell Hoult enough.

Darlington began to come into the game more and more and it was the visitors who began to look the stronger of the two sides as the game went on.

And despite having midfielder Jamie Chandler sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Danny North, they drew level through substitute Curtis Main's header eight minutes from time to claim only their second point of the season.

Town boss Mike Newell sprang a surprise with his team selection, with the introduction of 18-year-old Bradley Wood for his first senior start at right-back.

Peter Bore and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro were both named in the XI after making the difference from the bench in the win at Torquay last time out.

That meant there were no places from the start for strike duo Barry Conlon and Adam Proudlock, who were both named on the bench after completing three-match suspensions.

Scunthorpe loanee Josh Lillis took his place between the sticks for the last time in his initial one month loan period, with Wood, Paul Linwood, Atkinson and Joe Widdowson making up the back four.

Bore, Jamie Clarke, Ryan Bennett and Peter Sweeney were the midfielders, with Akpa Akpro partnering Danny North in attack.

The Grimsby bench had a strong look to it, with goalkeeper Nick Colgan ready for a return from injury if called upon.

He was joined by Adrian Forbes, Proudlock, Conlon, Grant Normington, Chris Jones and Michael Leary.

Darlington arrived in Cleethorpes with just one point to their name from eight league games so far this season, gained in a 1-1 home draw with Cheltenham.

Colin Todd's side had also found goals hard to come by, having hit the net only three times in those eight games.

Hull City loanee Jamie Devitt would be looking to make an impact in only his second game for the Quakers since his switch from the KC Stadium, while Hoult, on loan from Notts County, would be out to keep the Mariners strikers at bay as he took his place in the Darlington goal.

Grimsby were looking to improve on a record that had shown two draws and eight defeats in their 10 meetings with Darlington since being relegated to League Two in 2004.

Town had the first attack of the game when Sweeney's backheel allowed Clarke the space to cross from the left.Bore won the header at the far post but after Akpa Akpro turned and fired towards goal, North was unable to divert the ball past Hoult.

The Mariners had the better of the opening stages, looking to use the pace and aerial ability of Akpa Akpro.The away side were going for a slow, patient build-up, although neither goalkeeper was called into any real action in the first part of the game.

The first shot of the game came on 12 minutes, with Darlington left-back Jeff Smith firing from 20 yards but not troubling Lillis as the ball flew well wide.

Bore swung over a cross from the right soon afterwards but a timely interception was made as Akpa Akpro looked to connect with a volley from 12 yards.

A better opportunity nearly came when Akpa Akpro controlled the ball on his chest and hit a through-ball for Clarke.Hoult sensed the danger though, racing off his line to gather.

Town were still on top and they had the ball in the Darlington penalty area again seconds later.This time, Bore got to the by-line on the right and pulled the ball back for North but Steve Foster stepped in ahead of the striker to clear.

Another attack down the right saw Akpa Akpro send over a good cross for North but Tony Kane stepped in to head it behind for a corner.

From that flag-kick, the Mariners got the reward their early promise had deserved.Sweeney delivered the corner and ATKINSON was left unmarked as he headed home from 10 yards.

Town continued to press after taking the lead and they nearly doubled their advantage in almost identical circumstances.Another corner from Sweeney on the right was met by Atkinson but this time, the header got a deflection and dropped narrowly wide.

Grimsby were looking dangerous, particularly from corners against a brittle visiting defence, and Akpa Akpro and Bennett both went close with headers before the 25-minute mark.

A long diagonal ball from Sweeney found North, who raced into the box before seeing his shot deflected for yet another corner, this time on the left.Akpa Akpro picked the ball up at the far post following the flag-kick and he turned and shot but Hoult was in the right place to make the stop.

Darlington were given the opportunity to create some danger when Sweeney was penalised for handball midway inside his own half.The free kick was played short and Devitt crossed but Wood was there to head away for Town.

The visitors had created very little throughout the first half-hour though and their next effort came through midfielder Jamie Chandler, who shot well over the bar from 25 yards.

A mistake from the away side's James Bennett gave Clarke a free run into the penalty area but when he pulled the ball back across goal, he could not pick out a black and white shirt and the lead remained at one goal.

Darlington were enjoying longer spells of possession as Town looked to play longer passes towards Akpa Akpro.But it was still the Mariners in control as the half neared its conclusion.

A throw-in won after good chasing by Bore led to Akpa Akpro heading wide from Sweeney's left-wing cross.

Then, a long cross-field ball found Bore on the right and his cross was headed wide by North.

Darlington won a corner when Atkinson halted the run of Kane but again, the away side could not make it count.

One added minute was played at the end of a half that had been dominated by Grimsby and with no further opportunities created by either side before the whistle, the Mariners headed into the dressing rooms with their lead intact.

No substitutions were made at the interval and it was the visitors who made the first impact after the restart.Devitt, who had swapped wings, beat Wood down the Darlington left but Bennett put in a covering challenge.

At the other end, North was put through down the left as keeper Hoult raced out of his area.The striker tried to get around his opponent but a good challenge from Hoult sent the ball out for a corner.

Akpa Akpro found Bore on the left as Town stepped up the tempo but after getting to the by-line and cutting into the box, he hesitated in pulling the ball back across goal and the chance was gone.

Bore was then fouled on the edge of the area after he was brought down following a pass from Wood.Sweeney took the resulting free kick and his far post delivery was headed over by Bennett.

Darlington then had a short spell of pressure, with dangerman Devitt looking to haul the visitors level and Chandler firing wide again from long range.

Atkinson had to head clear to stop a Devitt cross from the left reaching Kevin Gall at the far post as the away side continued to ask questions of the Mariners defence.

Both sides made substitutions shortly after the hour mark, with Adam Proudlock and Adrian Forbes replacing Bore and Akpa Akpro, who had both impressed for Town.

Darlington boss Todd sent on youngster Curtis Main, who scored the winner when the two sides last met, with David Dowson making way for the 17-year-old.

Lillis had to make his first real save of the afternoon on 70 minutes when Devitt cut in and fizzed a shot to the keeper's near post.The stopper was at full stretch again seconds later, diving to keep out another shot from the same player.

Town were handed a numerical advantage as well as their one goal lead after an altercation between Chandler and North in the centre circle on 75 minutes.The Quakers midfielder raised his hand into North's face and was shown a straight red card by referee Scott Mathieson.

Almost immediately afterwards, Grimsby looked to threaten Hoult's goal again, with Proudlock bringing the ball forward before shooting narrowly wide from 25 yards.

The visitors were coming on strong though and their small band of supporters were sensing they were not yet out of the game at 1-0 down.

They were proved right with 10 minutes to go, when Town's missed chances came back to haunt them as Darlington forced their equaliser.

Devitt was the architect, skipping down the right before sending over a cross for the unmarked MAIN to head home from close range past the helpless Lillis.

Newell's response was to send Barry Conlon on for the closing stages of the game in place of Sweeney, with Grimsby now having just seven minutes left to restore their advantage and claim all three points.

Most of Town's attacking was now being done through Forbes on the right, with the former Millwall man exploiting some of the gaps left by Chandler's sending off.

Forbes ran at pace with three minutes to go before his cross was helped on by Bore, although Bennett could not beat Hoult with his header.

Darlington could have snatched all three points when Foster headed over from close range after a free kick from the edge of the area on the left, before Bennett's header was stopped by Hoult from a Town corner.

Three minutes of added time were signalled as both teams looked for a late winner in what was turning into a frantic finale.

Gall was inches away from connecting to turn a weak Main shot goalwards in the second of the added minutes but the ball ran out of play for a goal kick.

Neither side could force a decisive goal in the final minute and so it finished honours even, although Town would have been disappointed not to have claimed their third straight victory.

The Mariners did make it three games without defeat though, and they now head to Chesterfield on Wednesday for their next league fixture.