LENELL John-Lewis may have been criticised for his lack of goals, but there was no questioning his finishing ability on Saturday.
The Mariners forward has made an impressive start to the Conference campaign, keeping last season's top scorer Andy Cook out of the Town side.
The one thing missing has been goals – but the big striker began to put that right with his winner against Braintree.
And joint boss Paul Hurst admits it was beginning to become a concern before the 24-year-old's first-half strike ended the Iron's hopes at the weekend.
"We were getting to the stage where I was having to consider his position," admitted Hurst.
"We did a bit extra with him on Friday and after that we had a chat. I got the impression it was starting to weigh heavy on his shoulders – despite what I've been saying about what he brings to the team.
"While goals are great, there are a lot of other aspects of play that he brings to us, but deep down he's a striker and wants to add goals to his game.
"I'm delighted because his performances so far this season have deserved that, and I'm glad that he can sleep easier now knowing he's hit the target.
"It was a good finish. He hit one just before that and it went over the bar but the power he gets at times in his strikes, off both feet, is excellent.
"I believe in him and I think he can score goals for us – I see it at the training ground when we're doing our finishing drills.
"Lenny's got a good technique and while he is putting in performances and bringing something to the team, then I'm more than happy."
Injuries forced Hurst's hand slightly ahead of the Essex side's visit, with Clayton McDonald coming in at centre-half for Chris Doig, and Andi Thanoj replacing Craig Disley.
Scott Neilson also took Joe Colbeck's place in the 'front three' in a more tactical switch.
Despite the enforced changes, the hosts began brightly and went close within four minutes when Scott Kerr fired a low drive narrowly wide of the post from 25 yards.
Next, John-Lewis served notice of what was to follow, hammering a shot over the visiting crossbar from even further out.
In Pictures: Grimsby Town v Braintree
The Mariners ramped up the pressure with two successive corners, which the Braintree defence managed to repel, but the respite was short-lived and Town were ahead in the 13th minute.
Winger Alex Rodman had made an impressive start and when he drifted past his marker and delivered a superb low cross from the right, John-Lewis was on hand to finish well at the near post.
The hosts deserved their goal and the much-discussed 4-3-3 formation was causing Braintree's defence real problems.
Rodman and Neilson were looking bright behind the focal point of John-Lewis, while Paddy McLaughlin was able to provide support from midfield safe in the knowledge that Kerr and Thanoj had his back.
Neilson teed-up Rodman to test keeper Nathan McDonald with a low drive as the fine start continued.
Gradually, though, that verve ebbed away as the visitors responded and referee Martin Coy took centre stage for 15 minutes, handing out a flurry of bookings for minor indiscretions.
As the half entered its final ten minutes, Alan Devonshire's men upped the ante.
First, Luke Daley's shot was blocked by Clayton McDonald, before his centre-back partner Shaun Pearson got in the way of Kenny Davis' powerful drive.
Neilson did test Nathan McDonald again in added time, but the Mariners had relinquished the initiative – if not the lead – heading into the break.
The half-time team-talk briefly revived Town, with John-Lewis inches from getting on the end of Rodman's fine cross into the box, and Neilson screaming unsuccessfully for a penalty after the wideman felt he was held back.
However, as the game neared the hour mark, the visitors responded again and began to force the Mariners back.
Alan Massey saw their first shot on target easily gathered by James McKeown before the Town stopper was scrambling across his goal when John-Lewis inadvertently flicked an Iron cross onto the roof of his own net.
Hurst reacted by replacing Neilson with the fresh legs of Joe Colbeck and within a minute a superb through-ball from Thanoj sent Rodman scampering clear. His slightly tame effort was blocked by the onrushing Nathan McDonald, though.
Dazed from a clash of heads, left-back Alan Goodall departed in the 68th minute, giving Town Youth-teamer Paul Walker another chance to impress.
And, after Rodman has forced another save from Braintree's keeper, Walker was in the perfect spot at the other end to make a crucial clearance and deny an equaliser.
Andy Cook entered the fray for the hard-working John-Lewis, and the striker could have settled matters seven minutes from time.
Massey allowed a high ball to bounce, and Cook nipped in behind the centre-half to charge clear. However, his attempted lob sailed well wide of the mark.
That miss didn't prove costly, however, and the Mariners held out without further alarm to make it four points from two matches since Hurst took sole charge.
Whether he is re-joined by co-manager Rob Scott for tomorrow evening's match at Halifax remains a complete mystery.
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