TWO first half Burton Albion goals condemned Grimsby Town to a third consecutive league defeat.

The Mariners started superbly and were ahead within four minutes of the kick-off, with recalled striker Chris Jones blocking a clearance from keeper Artur Krysiak and seeing the ball spin back into the net to give the hosts a dream start.

In a frantic opening 10 minutes, Town had chances to stretch their lead but they were to be pegged back when Andy Corbett grabbed Burton's equaliser.

And the strike that turned out to be the winning goal came on the half-hour, with Jimmy Phillips netting after a slick passing move of real quality from the visitors.

Grimsby looked to get themselves back into the game in the second half and had plenty of possession and territory.

But the Mariners were never able to really test the goalkeeper, on loan from Birmingham City, on what was ultimately another frustrating afternoon for the Blundell Park fans, as the visitors held on to claim all three points.

Mike Newell was again forced to make changes after the midweek Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory at Hartlepool, with Danny Boshell beginning a two-match suspension for picking up a red card in that game.

His place at the heart of the Town midfield was taken by Jamie Clarke, while Paul Linwood came back into the XI in place of Rob Atkinson and Jones was handed a start, with Josh Fuller dropping back to the bench.

Nick Colgan played in goal for the first time in a competitive fixture at Blundell Park, with Bradley Wood, Ryan Bennett, Linwood and Joe Widdowson making up the back four.

Nathan Jarman was given another chance to shine after impressing in his comeback from injury in midweek, with Clarke, top scorer Peter Sweeney and Adrian Forbes completing the midfield.

Adam Proudlock was again the preferred choice to start in attack, supported by Jones.

The Grimsby substitutes were Leigh Overton, Michael Leary, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Grant Normington, Fuller, Danny North and Peter Bore.

North and Bore would be particularly eager to get onto the field and make an impact after the news that they were being made available for loans.

Burton Albion were making their first ever trip to Cleethorpes to face the Mariners,with striker Greg Pearson likely to be the main threat for the home defence, having been the club's top scorer as they won the Blue Square Premier last season.

Polish Under-19 keeper Krysiak lined up between the sticks for Paul Peschisolido's side, while 46-year-old Kevin Poole was handed a place on the Brewers' bench.

Town's first attacking move saw Jones look for Proudlock with a searching diagonal ball from the left.Keeper Krysiak noticed the danger and raced off his line to claim the ball ahead of the striker.

Grimsby started purposefully and after a driving run from Forbes down the middle, Sweeney fired a 25-yard shot wide.

Just three minutes were on the clock when the hosts took the lead, in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.

Krysiak looked to launch a long clearance downfield but his kick was blocked by JONES, who sent the ball back past the helpless stopper and into the net for his first goal for the Mariners.

A foul on Forbes brought a free kick in a dangerous position to the right of the penalty area.Sweeney sent a low delivery to the near post and Proudlock got a toe to the ball ahead of Krysiak but it was sent spinning over the bar.

Town had the words of both manager Newell and chairman John Fenty ringing in their ears ahead of disappointing previous league displays and that was evident from the start as they looked to attack at every opportunity.

Linwood was the next to have a good chance but he failed to convert with a volley from 10 yards after Jones had sent a Sweeney cross back across goal.

But for all Grimsby's dominance, it was the visitors who were back on level terms when the second goal of the afternoon came on nine minutes.

Midfielder CORBETT was the man to profit after Town failed to clear a low cross from the left.

The visitors were starting to find their feet after the early onslaught from the home side and the Staffordshire side could have been ahead when Pearson beat Linwood and advanced into the box but he could not keep his balance and went down before he could work an opening to shoot.

A free kick given for a foul by Wood on Jimmy Phillips led to Ryan Austin heading over Colgan's bar as Burton looked to take control of the game after weathering the early Mariners storm.

Jarman had to concede a corner after a long cross from the left and centre-back Guy Branston powered a header wide from the flag-kick, with 21 minutes gone.

After a series of late challenges by Wood, the referee's patience ran out on 26 minutes, with the youngster becoming the first to be shown a yellow card, for a challenge on Phillips.

Austin sent a long ball down the right for Burton after dispossessing Jarman and Pearson did well to reach it and send a low cross over for strike partner Richard Walker to volley over the bar.

At the other end, Proudlock's cross from the left eluded Jones and Forbes was unable to capitalise at the far post.

Burton took the lead on the half-hour with a superbly-worked goal, with the away side putting together a string of slick passes to open the Mariners defence up before PHILLIPS picked his spot and side-footed past Colgan from the left of the penalty area.

After an impressive start, the Mariners once again had it all to do if they were to get anything from the game, with the away side looking impressive in possession and comfortable in defence.

Town won a corner when Proudlock's teasing ball across the six-yard line was cleared.Sweeney's delivery was punched away by Krysiak before Clarke's return ball for Linwood was touched by Austin for another corner.

Widdowson was the next name to go into the referee's notebook for a foul in a dangerous position near his own penalty area.Michael Simpson's free kick found Walker, who sent a glancing header inches wide of Colgan's far post.

Clarke's through-ball three minutes before the break found Proudlock in an offside position, with the flag from the assistant referee going up as the Shropshire-born striker sent a first-time shot over the bar.

One added minute was played at the end of the half and with no further chances for either side, the Mariners headed to the dressing rooms with a deficit to overturn in the second period.

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro was sent on in place of Jones ahead of the restart in a bid to add some pace and strength to the Town attack.

The Ivorian turned Guy Branston and saw his cross from the right cleared for a corner six minutes in, with Linwood heading wide from Sweeney's delivery on the right.

Proudlock was the next to threaten when he picked up Clarke's pass and shot from 30 yards.Krysiak dived to his right to make the stop.

Bennett and then Jarman had to block shots from Simpson on 58 minutes as the Brewers looked to stretch their lead.

Town were then forced into a second substitution after Proudlock was carried off on a stretcher after picking up an injury following a challenge on Paul Boertien.Danny North, with a point to prove, was the man to replace him in the home attack.

A through-ball from Sweeney found North, who beat his man but failed to beat Krysiak in the Burton goal.

North then became the third Town player to be shown a yellow card for a late challenge on John McGrath.

Striker Pearson was replaced by Shaun Harrad for the visitors with 20 minutes to go, before a shot from Corbett fizzed over Colgan's bar from 30 yards in front of the 482 travelling Burton fans.

Peter Bore was introduced to the action in place of Jarman soon afterwards but it was the visitors who continued to create the better chances, with Colgan forced into a good one-handed save from Phillips.

Forbes beat Boertien down the Town right in a move which resulted in another corner but North was unable to get a touch on the ball after Bennett's header dropped near him following Sweeney's delivery.

Then, Akpa Akpro managed to get to the byline but failed to find a man in black and white when he pulled the ball back.

Grimsby were enjoying a good spell of possession and territory, causing problems down the flanks but still not troubling keeper Krysiak or the centre-back partnership of Austin and Branston.

Bore burst through with nine minutes left before trying his luck from 25 yards, although Krysiak made a relatively comfortable save from the shot.

Town were given a further boost when six added minutes were signalled by the fourth official at the end of the regulation 90.

But as the game neared its conclusion, it was the away side who looked more likely to stretch their lead.

Wood was adjudged to have committed a foul 25 yards out and left of centre but Simpson failed to hit the target from the free kick, lifting it over the bar.

Forbes won a free kick at the other end but Sweeney's kick was headed away by Branston.

Another free kick was sent towards the far post by Clarke soon afterwards but again, there was not to be an end product for the Mariners.

Town's last chance was to come when Akpa Akpro won a corner on the right but as Simpson hacked it clear, the full time whistle signalled another home defeat for Town.

They must now look to set the record straight at Blundell Park when they host Rochdale next Saturday.