In a great advert for non-league football, the Mariners and their visitors played out a hugely entertaining, end-to-end game that lifted the hosts into the play-off positions for the first time this season.

Luton started the brighter of the two sides in the early evening fixture but Grimsby grew in confidence throughout the first half and they took the lead through an Alan Connell penalty on the half-hour, after Shane Blackett's handball inside the box.

Despite Town's narrow advantage, the game remained in the balance as the away side searched for an equaliser after half-time.

But the home supporters were able to relax a little when their team stretched their lead through a headed goal from Micky Cummins with 20 minutes to go.

And after patchy displays in their previous home games, the Mariners had finally made their intentions clear for the rest of the season as they moved up to fourth in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Town boss Neil Woods was able to name Lee Ridley in his starting XI after the former Scunthorpe left-back recovered from injury.

He came into the side in place of Dwayne Samuels, while another other alteration saw loan goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell come in for his Grimsby debut between the sticks.

The third change to the side that beat Histon last time out was the return of Peter Bore, with injury ruling Charles Ademeno out.

O'Donnell took his place in goal, with Bore, Darran Kempson, Steven Watt and Ridley making up the defence.

Lewis Gobern began on the right side of midfield, with Cummins and Mark Hudson in the middle, leaving Bradley Wood to switch to a left-wing role.

Lee Peacock and Alan Connell began in attack, with Scott Garnner, Dwayne Samuels, Tom Corner, Rob Eagle and Steve Croudson named as substitutes.

Luton's danger man was likely to be prolific striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who came into the game with five goals to his name already this season.

He was joined in the Hatters' attack by the experienced Kevin Gallen, who last played against the Mariners in the colours of MK Dons.

Luton kicked off attacking the Pontoon Stand and immediately looked to take control of the game, aided by two early long throws into the penalty area by winger Adam Newton.

Claude Gnapka was fouled on the edge of the box by Hudson, who was lucky to escape an early booking for the challenge. From the set piece, Gallen crashed a low shot through the Town wall but O'Donnell got down to make the save.

Gallen went close again after a ball into the box by Keith Keane. The former QPR man controlled it and volleyed a shot that was deflected away for the first corner of the game. From the flag, Bore headed clear before a long-range effort from midfielder Adam Murray clipped the top of the crossbar.

Town were yet to produce a meaningful attack as the 10-minute mark passed, with the visitors by far the brighter of the two teams in the early stages.

More encouraging signs for the Mariners came from a move involving Gobern on the right. He looked to have lost the ball but won it back and worked it to Peacock, who won a corner.

Gobern's delivery from the right flag found Kempson but the defender sent his header over the bar.

The next shooting chance for Town fell to Connell on 20 minutes, after Gobern's deep cross from the right was headed down by Hudson. The striker picked it up 20 yards out and shot just over visiting keeper Mark Tyler's bar.

Luton's Gnapka then sent an effort well off-target from 35 yards after finding himself in plenty of space in the centre of the pitch.

After a slow start, Town had grown into the game and were now the side taking the initiative, keeping the ball inside the Luton half.

A warning sign for Grimsby came when the powerful Gnapka outmuscled both Ridley and Watt to charge into the box, before Gallen's shot was blocked for a corner.

Tyler was the first of the keepers to be forced into serious action when a good Town move ended with the ball being played to Connell inside the box. The former Peterborough stopper was equal to his shot though, blocking the effort for a corner.

From it, Barnes-Homer headed away for another corner and this time, Kempson's header was blocked by the hand of defender Blackett.

Referee Mr Simpson had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and after Blackett was booked, CONNELL stepped up to confidently convert from 12 yards to give Grimsby a 30^th minute lead.

After struggling to find their men with long, hopeful balls in the early part of the game, the Mariners had appeared to grow in confidence and were now looking to build up play more patiently on the ground.

Peacock won a handball decision against Murray inside the Luton half but the free kick was eventually cleared after Connell looked to turn and shoot inside the box.

A Luton corner at the other end was headed away from danger by Kempson before the resulting throw-in was eventually dealt with by Bore as Barnes-Homer looked to feed off any scraps.

The visitors had another chance to launch an attack when Keane was fouled by Cummins in the centre circle. Murray chipped the ball forward and Gallen headed it from inside the penalty area but O'Donnell again got down to make a comfortable save.

Hudson became the first Town player to see a yellow card when he fouled Gallen in the midfield area but again, Luton failed to cause any problems from the free kick as Murray's ball ran through for a goal kick.

Two additional minutes were played at the end of the half and the away side were given another opportunity when Watt conceded a corner under pressure from Gallen. From it, Hudson had to head off the line after Gnapka had headed goalwarrds but the danger was eventually dealt with by the Mariners in what proved to be the last action of the half.

It had been an entertaining first 45 minutes as two of the better footballing teams in the division looked to put on a show for the television viewers, as well as their own supporters inside the stadium.

Town manager Woods would have been especially happy with his side, who went into the dressing rooms with the advantage at the halfway mark.

No changes were made at half-time and it was Luton who had the first chance within a minute of the restart, when Barnes-Homer fired over the top from 20 yards.

The Bedfordshire side were looking to get on level terms as soon as possible and Kempson had to get across to put in a covering challenge as Newton looked to make progress down the left soon afterwards.

At the other end, a Bore cross was claimed by Tyler after good work by Gobern, before Watt came out on top in a tussle with Gnapka inside the Town box.

A handball decision against Gobern gave Luton a free kick deep in the Mariners half. Murray's kick led to Blackett challenging inside the box but O'Donnell claimed the ball.

A let-off for Town came on 53 minutes, after Barnes-Homer got the better of Kempson in a duel on the edge of the penalty area. The defender then slipped and his opponent advanced into the box before slamming a low shot against the post, with O'Donnell beaten.

The game was moving from end to end at a great pace, with both sides looking to attack whenever possible.

A long throw by Newton was headed out for a corner by Kempson but Gnapka headed wide from Murray's left-wing delivery.

Town showed they could effectively use the long throw too when Ridley launched the ball into the box and Watt connected with a header but saw it drop wide of the mark.

Connell was booked on the hour when he was caught offside but played on after the whistle had gone, shooting over the bar.

Gobern was upended by Zdenek Kroca soon afterwards, with the centre-back also seeing yellow for the challenge.

A good challenge by Watt gave Luton another corner after Bore had lost possession on halfway but the danger was dealt with as Kempson cleared.

Town were zipping the ball around well and after a good ball from Peacock, Wood turned Dan Gleeson before being brought down by the defender. Peacock's free kick was deflected out for a corner and from Gobern's pinpoint delivery, CUMMINS arrowed a superb header into the top corner of the net to double Grimsby's advantage.

Peacock saw another shot deflected away for a corner after he had been found inside the box by Gobern. This time, the winger could only hit the gloves of Tyler from the flag.

Grimsby-born Danny Crow, on for Gallen in the Luton attack, won a corner off Ridley on 74 minutes but Watt headed it away from danger.

Newton smashed a shot well over the bar as the visitors looked to get themselves back into the game but Town keeper O'Donnell was never in danger.

Wood was given a standing ovation from the home supporters as he was replaced by Tom Corner with 11 minutes to go.

Bore conceded a corner soon afterwards but again, the away side could not profit, as a header from close range was straight at O'Donnell.

A cross from Bore on the right almost led to a third goal for Town but as Connell headed the ball on, Corner could not connect with it to provide a crucial touch.

Four minutes of added time were played before the referee's whistle brought the game to an end, with the Town fans going home happy.

The Mariners are next in action when they travel to Tamworth on Saturday.

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