A LATE Liam Hearn goal earned Grimsby Town a massive three points at promotion rivals Southport and took them level on points with play-off placed York City into sixth.

On a night when they needed the defence to keep them in it during a rampant first-half from a Southport team in fourth, the Mariners showed, dare I say, the grit of a promotion-winning side to come from behind and extend their unbeaten league run to 14 matches.

And it had to be Hearn, the star of the season so far, who sealed it at the second attempt after a game where he had struggled to find opportunities falling his way.

Every great forward can make an impact with just one chance and that's exactly what Hearn did when he bundled home on 82 minutes.

Just where it will take Town in May, who knows, but it was a big win, make no mistake.

Despite their winning FA Trophy exploits at Bath City ten days earlier, Town reverted to their usual league line-up of late with Ian Miller back in at the heart of the defence for Shaun Pearson, who dropped to substitute again.

Otherwise, it was as you were with new boy Louie Soares finally getting a Town kit on more than a fortnight after signing, but forced to settle for a spot on the bench.

Fourth-placed Southport were boosted by the availability of skipper Alan Moogan after suspension. He came back in from the start as Liam Watson's one change from the team that beat Darlington in midweek.

While joint boss Rob Scott wasn't placing too much emphasis on it being a proverbial six-pointer before the game, the mood around Haig Avenue was that of a top-of-the-table clash in front of the live TV cameras.

And the home side almost had the dream start to their night on the box when Karl Ledsham beat the offside trap to get into the left-hand channel of the box, but James McKeown was down well at his near post to save.

Southport had flown out of the traps and tested McKeown again on three minutes; this time Moogan firing into his thankful arms from 18 yards.

Town struggled to get a foothold early on and another swift Port attack on nine minutes ended with Ledsham in space on the left, but this time he curled high over the bar.

There was a worrying moment for Town and their impressive following on 11 minutes when Scott Garner stayed down motionless after a nasty clash of heads. Skipper Craig Disley was quick to act and called for physio Dave Moore to come on.

Garner came round slightly but, clearly groggy, he was forced off on a stretcher.

Pearson was the natural replacement and entered the fray immediately with two clearing headers.

Town came to life on the quarter-hour when Pearson was in the thick of it again to send a shot just wide after it dropped to his feet 12 yards out.

But McKeown was by far the busier keeper and, like the corresponding fixture last season, Town's number one was doing his bit to keep the team in the game.

But he was helpless to stop the opener coming on 28 minutes from Southport's sixth corner of the half.

The cross was met by the gangly Vinny Mukendi rising highest at the near post but took two touches off Town players on its way into the far bottom corner; the second, crucially, off Elding, diverting it into goal.

It was quite ironic in the week the Conference confirmed they had credited the frontman with own goals in Town's favour at Kidderminster and at home to Barrow – taking his tally to 14 – that it was the ex-Leeds man who got the final touch for one of his own.

Remarkably, though, after Pearson had warned the home side with a header from a corner just over the bar, the Mariners were level in stoppage time from a similar set-piece.

It was Pearson's central defensive partner Miller who opened his Town account from another great Artus cross; his header nestling in the net to inexplicably leave it level at the break.

It was a lively open start to the second half with the game stretched. Without any real openings, it was end-to-end with Michael Coulson going on a surging run without anyone getting on the end of his low cross.

Then, a long ball saw Hearn beat the offside trap and race through on goal but, as Tony McMillan raced out, a heavy touch sent it too far past him and he fell under the challenge which prompted hopeful appeals for a foul from the away end.

There was lucky escape for Town within minutes, however, when Shaun Whalley went on a similar run to Coulson and his low cross flashed across goal with Tony Gray unable to stretch enough to convert into an empty net.

Town were in the game a lot more now but they still needed to stay strong at the back and did so as Pearson made some important headed interceptions.

The game became scrappy and Town threw on Rob Duffy for Elding with quarter of an hour remaining and Anthony Church for Disley soon after to try and edge it.

And the goal for Town did come, with eight minutes to go, and it was a reward for persistence for Hearn.

The ball bobbled about the Port six-yard box and Town kept winning it back.

And after Hearn's first close-range effort was parried by McMillan, his second bobbled into the far corner to spark joyous scenes on and off the pitch for everyone with Town at heart.

They held on for a huge three points and on displays like this are promotions clinched and titles won. Town are ready to go the distance and their rivals at the top end watching on television know that now.

Replay our live and interactive coverage, with all the fans’ banter, by clicking on the player below: