ROSS Hannah said he wanted a goal and three crucial points before last night's promotion tussle against Wrexham – and he delivered to earn exactly that.
Grimsby Town's top scorer – in the final game of his loan spell from Bradford – popped up with the winner, 12 minutes from time.
Hannah was recalled to the side alongside Scott Neilson, who also played the final game in his loan from Crawley.
With Shaun Pearson ruled out through illness, Ian Miller deputised at centre-half once again while Aswad Thomas shook off the Achilles injury that kept him out of the FA Trophy win over Havant and Waterlooville to reclaim the left-back spot, with Bradley Wood dropping to the bench.
In front of a bumper Blundell Park crowd, the game started brightly and, just as they had last Saturday, Town nearly grabbed an early goal – but Hannah could not connect with Thomas' chipped cross.
The loanee then drove wide minutes later after good work from Cook as the hosts continued to press.
The Mariners had a decent shout for a penalty less than a minute later when Neilson found Craig Disley in the box, who tried to roll his marker and fell to the turf, however, referee Joyce was unmoved and ignored raucous appeals from the home fans.
The Welsh side were forced into an early change when player/manager Andy Morrell limped off with only a quarter of the game gone to be replaced by Adrian Cieslewicz.
But the stoppage didn't stem Town – Marshall showed good pace to beat Ashton to the ball before whipping in an inviting ball to Cook in the box but it just evaded the frontman. They quickly won the ball back and Neilson was found on the opposite flank but, again, no-one in a black and white shirt could get on the end of his cross.
At the other end, with almost 20 minutes gone, former Premier League striker Brett Ormerod lifted on to the roof of James McKeown's net with a headed effort and, minutes later, the Town keeper did well to cut out a dangerous ball to Cieslewicz as the visitors began to find their rhythm.
But Town responded well, and Cook won yet another header to find Marshall but his tame, side-footed effort was gathered easily by Joslain Mayebi.
Wrexham almost hit Town on the break, but Pond did well to recover and delay the attack.
The Fleetwood loan man was called into action again minutes later and produced an inch-perfect tackle to deny Ormerod as the former Blackpool man looked to profit from a stumble from Miller.
The Dragons' patient and purposeful possession was beginning to pull the Mariners around and after another well-constructed attack, Sam Hatton was forced to hook out of his own six yard box as the visitors looked to profit as a tight first half came to an end.
Town came out strongly and won only their first corner of the game after four minutes of the restart, but Neilson couldn't connect properly with his half volley and Wrexham cleared their lines.
Good work from Scott Neilson won Town another corner, Pond collected the delivery at the far post and showed good feet to lose his marker and whip in a superb cross that was cleared over.
But with Town pushing forward, when that corner was cleared, Wrexham looked to catch the hosts on the break and pumped the ball forward to Cieslewicz but Niven did well to get back and cut out the chance.
At the other end, Wrexham could have broken the deadlock but Ormerod could not quite reach Keates' far post cross with the goal at his mercy.
The game was becoming more and more stretched – Hannah raced clear and looked to find Cook at the far post but Mayebi gathered, while at the other end, Jonny Hunt side-footed over as the clock ticked past the hour mark.
When Neilson was found by Thomas, the Crawley man returned the favour in the box, but Thomas took the ball on the half-volley and hammered into the side netting with Cook and Hannah well placed in the middle.
Cook got up well again to nod down to Hannah who played in Neilson but his shot was deflected over while, what becoming a sustained spell of Mariners' pressure Pond chased a lost cause and backheeled the ball to the winger but his efforts to find Cook were snuffed out.
Town were determined to make that pressure tell and when Disley found Thomas free on the left-hand side, he skipped past his man quared to Hannah, who couldn't miss. The Bradford striker does what he does best and slotted the ball home from less than six yards out to send the Pontoon into raptures.
Backed by a now buoyant crowd, Town were not giving their title rivals a minute's rest – Mayebi flapped at a cross and Cook showed strength to gather and strike a volley that deflected out for another corner.
Scott Neilson then received a rapturous reception on what Town fans will hope won't be his final game for the Mariners as he was replaced by Dayle Southwell with only stoppage time remaining.
Town had to survive a late push from the visitors – including from goalkeeper Mayebi – but hung on to record what could prove to be a crucial three points in the Blue Square Bet Premier title race.
