Grimsby 1 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

But for the second game running they were unable to create anything of note going forward as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Blundell Park.

As a result, yet another chance to re-ignite their Conference Premier survival campaign passed them by. They now have just 12 games left to claw back a 10 point gap to safety.

Manager Steve Kittrick made two changes to the starting line-up, following Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

Midfielder Jack Rea returned after almost a month out injured, with Godfrey Poku surprisingly moving to the bench in his place.

John Disney was preferred at full-back in place of Bolton Wanderers loanee Glenn Matthews, who made his senior debut on Saturday.

Top scorer Tony Gray kept his place in the 'hole' behind the front two, after recovering from an eye injury which forced him off at half time at The New Lawn.

The Bucks made a fast start, denying them space and trying to force errors.

A Danny Ventre corner-kick just four minutes in caused some problems, as the Mariners struggled momentarily to clear their area.

But the same player's poor pass back put his own goalkeeper Freddy Hall under pressure five minutes later.

And the Bucks were fortunate to escape unharmed after Hall's clearance rebounded off Grimsby striker Lennell-John Lewis and out for a goal kick.

Disney had to be alert soon afterwards to prevent Craig Disley going clean through on goal on the edge of the box with a fine block tackle.

The Bucks had Hall to thank on 22 minutes though when he pulled off a tremendous double save to deny both John-Lewis and Christian Jolley from very close range.

Telford had been carved open down their right channel following good work from Gregor Robertson and Nathan Arnold, and Hall did tremendously well to prevent the opening goal.

John-Lewis again tested Hall's reflexes with a sharp shot on the turn soon afterwards but the effort was ruled offside.

But there was no question Arnold's low drive would have counted had Hall not made another top drawer save on 31 minutes.

The Town winger out-paced Disney to a crossfield pass but could not beat Hall from a one-on-one position.

Telford were living dangerously though and John Lewis flashed just over from a very tight angle, after beating skipper Ian Sharps to a ball on the edge of the box.

Grimsby continued to increase the pressure though approaching half time, pulling a resolute Bucks defence around with some attractive passing moves in and around the box.

Telford held firm though and will have been the happier of the sides at the interval.

But it was the home side who were smiling within three minutes of the re-start, as Arnold fired past Hall into the roof of the net on the turn.

The same player tried to double his tally with an ambitious drive from the edge of the area which sailed comfortably wide and over soon afterwards.

And John-Lewis should have increased the lead when he first rattled the bar with a superb curling effort, before failing to beat Hall from a one-on-one position just past the hour mark.

Jolley's deflected effort also failed to wrong-foot the Telford shot-stopper, who had an excellent game overall, with 20 minutes remaining after substitute Poku had given the ball away.

John-Lewis should have wrapped the game up when he latched on to a right wing cross inside the box.

But the Mariners' striker could only slot wide from close range under pressure from Hall who was off his line quickly.

Having been so dominant going forward Grimsby almost threw three points away when goalkeeper James McKeown fired a poor kick out straight to Gray.

Unfortunately, the forward could not accept the gift as he fired low into the side netting, when a pass across goal might have been the better option, four minutes from time.

Telford would not get another chance to salvage a point from the game, as Grimsby comfortably saw out the remaining minutes which included four minutes of added time.