It was a disappointing night in East Lincolnshire as Newport County AFC were beaten by Grimsby Town.
There wasn’t much between the two sides but Ian Holloway’s men took their chances to condemn County to defeat.
Jordan Green cancelled out Bradley Garmston’s early opener but a superb free kick from Josh Benson put the hosts ahead at the break.
James Hanson added a third on the hour mark but Padraig Amond ensured the Exiles stayed in the game as he pegged them back.
However, substitute Max Wright secured the win with a late fourth.
After earning a hard-fought victory over Bradford City at the weekend. County only made one change with George Nurse replacing Ryan Haynes.
The Mariners caught County out with a goal after just 49 seconds, Garmston firing in from close range after Tom King parried the initial shot from Charles Vernam.
Despite losing a goal inside the first minute, the Exiles responded positively with Robbie Willmott testing the defence with a couple of teasing crosses aimed at marksman Jamille Matt.
Their good work was rewarded on 10 minutes. Nurse’s pass from deep curled around the defence, just evaded Matt but fell perfectly for Green to tap in the first goal of his second spell at the club.
The Exiles had the woodwork to thank a few minutes later as Benson’s strike from the edge of the box beat King but cannoned back off the crossbar.
Matt was performing his role brilliantly upfront, holding up play and bringing Green and Otis Khan into the game and he almost turned provider for Dale Gorman, however, goalkeeper James McKeown was equal to his effort.
The striker then had a sight of goal himself but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
County were starting to pour forward at will but were pegged back shortly before the break. Ryan Inniss conceded a foul on the edge of the box and Benson made no mistake with the free kick.
Manager Michael Flynn decided to change things around at half time with Matt and Inniss replaced by Amond and Joss Labadie and the latter made the perfect impact, setting up Green with the attacker just narrowly off target.
Labadie and Khan both went close as County exerted their authority but, once again, Grimsby showed their clinical edge in front of goal when James Tilley’s deflected shot fell invitingly for Hanson and the striker fired past King.
Amond replied quickly for County as he tapped in the rebound from Gorman’s shot for his 13th goal of the season and Tristan Abrahams then replaced Green as County went in search of the equaliser.
Khan was denied by McKeown in a thrilling finale with Tilley and Matt Green trying their luck for the Mariners before Max Wright’s deflected strike looped over King to seal the win.
Grimsby Town (4-3-3): James McKeown (C); Elliott Hewitt, Luke Waterfall, Matthew Pollock, Bradley Garmston; Harry Clifton, Josh Benson, Elliott Whitehouse (Matt Green 59); James Tilley, James Hanson (Max Wright 66), Charles Vernam (Billy Clarke 77).
Subs not used: Sam Russell, Ludvig Öhman, Elliot Grandin, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon.
Newport County AFC (3-4-2-1): Tom King; Ryan Inniss (Joss Labadie 46), Scot Bennett, Mickey Demetriou; Robbie Willmott, Dale Gorman, Josh Sheehan (C), George Nurse; Jordan Green (Tristan Abrahams 71), Otis Khan; Jamille Matt (Padraig Amond 46).
Subs not used: Ryan Haynes, Kyle Howkins, Matty Dolan, Lewis Collins.
Referee: Seb Stockbridge.
Attendance: 3,578 (33 Newport County)
Next up for County: Oldham Athletic, February 29 (AWAY)