SATURDAY'S home draw with Southport meant that it hasn't quite been a 100 per cent start to the month for Grimsby Town, but after their miserable March, the joint bosses will certainly take it.
After only winning one game last month, the Mariners have made a promising start to April, winning their opening two games against Stockport County and Macclesfield.
And, while the 2-2 draw with the Merseysiders prevented the promotion-chasers from making it three from three, the manner in which they salvaged the draw – and results elsewhere – meant that Rob Scott and Paul Hurst were reflecting on one gained, rather than two dropped.
Cleveland Taylor scored his first goal since joining the club on loan – in the second minute of injury time – to salvage a draw for the under-par Mariners after Southport's part-timers had twice taken the lead at Blundell Park.
The result, combined with Forest Green Rovers' defeat to Tamworth, means that victory at Dartford – and anything less than a Rovers' win against Hereford – tomorrow night would seal Town's place in the play-offs.
Scott and Hurst made two changes from the victory over the Silkmen, with Marcus Marshall and Joe Colbeck coming in for Craig Disley and Taylor respectively.
Other than that, Town were unchanged from that morale-boosting win and, at a sun-bathed Blundell Park, their visitors got the game underway.
After a tepid opening 15 minutes, the Mariners won their first corner of the game after some classy play in the middle from Tom Naylor. Frankie Artus whipped in the set piece, but Shaun Pearson miscued his diving header from ten yards.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town 2 Southport 2
At the other end, when Shaun Whalley was man-handled by Aswad Thomas close to the by-line, referee Ross Joyce gave a free-kick which former Mariner Simon Grand nodded on target to give James McKeown an early touch.
But that was a warning that Town didn't heed, as minutes later, they were behind.
A long throw was nodded at the near post and, when the ball wasn't cleared by the flat-footed defence, Karl Ledsham rolled home from 12 yards.
The hosts were clearly shaken by that goal and it took them until ten minutes from the break to come to terms with going behind.
A slick counter between Ross Hannah and Marshall earned them a corner, that, after being cleared was pumped back into the box. From the edge of the area, Andy Cook cushioned the ball on his chest before spinning and catching a hooked volley that beat a scrambling Jonathan Hedge down to his right.
Town had been by no means at their best, and had certainly scored against the run of play. But the goal was a reward for stringing together their first real move of quality and that fact clearly roused the hosts.
For a brief spell, they looked the more likely to grab the second as first Hannah, and then Cook, were narrowly flagged offside as the first half entered stoppage time, but it was the visitors who went ahead just before the break.
The impressive Whalley was afforded space to clip a superb, lofted ball to the back post where Ledsham climbed above Hatton to nod home and reclaim the lead just seconds before the sides were sent in at half-time.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first had ended, with a static Town slow to mop up the second ball against a physical and resolute Sandgrounders side.
It was clear that the hosts needed a lift and, just short of the hour mark, the bosses responded by throwing on Taylor and fans' favourite Liam Hearn – who came on to rapturous applause.
And they were almost on terms within two minutes of those changes when Artus whipped in a curling free-kick that Pearson nodded on to the top of the bar.
By now, the improving Mariners were on top, and they had a clear penalty shout waved away when Hatton was hacked down inside the area.
Incensed by that decision, the Mariners looked to capitalise on what had been a strong start to the second half. And on 69 minutes a burst from full-back Thomas earned them a corner from which Taylor prodded wide on the volley.
However, with Whalley, Southport always posed a danger on the break, and when the wideman danced through three challenges, his toe-poke was tipped over superbly by McKeown, while seconds later, Pearson was forced to hack off the line from sub Danny Hattersley's dangerous downward header.
Those two attacks looked to have signalled an end to Town's promising spell and there was a growing sense that the game was getting away from the hosts.
As the clock ticked down to full-time, Pearson – popping up on the right wing – curled in a superb far post ball that none in black and white had gambled on, while, seconds later, 'Port keeper Hedge was booked for time-wasting as the visitors looked to cling on to all three points.
But Taylor had other ideas, as the game entered four minutes of stoppage time.
Substitute John-Lewis shrugged off ironic 'cheers' from his own fans to win the ball and play a clever pass into Taylor's path.
The Burton man then struck a low drive that arrowed into Hedge's bottom-corner to snatch a late point.
A visibly elated – and by now shirtless – Taylor wheeled away in front of a jubilant Pontoon before receiving a booking for his over-exuberant celebrations.
But the 29-year-old didn't care a jot – he'd rescued an unlikely point for his new club and, as he said post-match, important goals like that are meant to be celebrated.
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