GRIMSBY Town bounced back from defeat at Rushden & Diamonds with a home win over the villagers from Histon thanks to their stellar summer signing up front and a returning hero in goal.

Striker Alan Connell showed why boss Neil Woods was so keen to sign him with a fine attacking display that saw him grab two contrasting goals – one a nerveless penalty to get Town back into the game and the second a stunning winner on the volley late on.

But his man-of-the-match display only just edged out goalkeeping coach Steve Croudson who, after six years away from competitive football, was drafted in after injuries to both first-choice Kenny Arthur and Nick Colgan.

And he didn't let his home-town team down as he showed glimpses of the talent that saw him break into the first-team at such a young age all those years ago.

One save in the second-half in particular, one-handed, was one his old mate Danny Coyne, watching on from the stands, would have been proud of.

But despite those two displays, Town were again very ordinary and perhaps fortunate to claim all three points.

The side from a Cambridgeshire village, whose population is less than Town's opening home attendance (just 4,450), were on a par with the Mariners for much of the game until Connell's strike.

Nevertheless, Woods will gratefully take the win after Saturday's humbling.

There was no denying Croudson's inclusion was the big news before the game – his last competitive first-team appearance being for Stevenage in December 2004.

The 29-year-old got the nod over Youth keeper Robert Peet, named on the bench alongside another veteran stepping back into the limelight from a coaching role – head of youth Robbie Stockdale.

The other notable inclusion was a first start for Charles Ademeno, who came in for Rob Eagle as the only other change from the side trounced at Rushden & Diamonds 48 hours earlier.

Huge cheers met Croudson's first catch from a sliced Steven Watt clearance backwards.

But it was at the other end Town wanted to make a mark quickly and Ademeno almost marked his full debut with a goal just three minutes in. He used his strength to hold off his marker in the box to turn on Micky Cummin's chipped pass to fire a left-footer just wide of the angle of post and bar.

Lewis Gobern got one on target five minutes later but he couldn't get enough power behind it after being crowded out by Histon players.

Connell got a full connection on his sweet strike following Lee Peacock's neat lay off but it whistled the wrong side of the near post.

Much like the opening exchanges of the last home match against Hayes & Yeading United, Town were on the front foot and in control early on.

But while they didn't capitalise on that, the visitors were always in it and some hesitation at the back by Darran Kempson allowed Antonio Murray in on the left but his pull-back was neatly cut out on the stretch by Watt to bail out his team-mate.

And lightning was indeed to strike twice when Histon's first meaningful attack brought the opening goal.

Danny Mills did well on halfway to outfox Mark Hudson, fed a ball through to Murray in the right channel to slice open the Town defence and his square ball was side-footed home at the far post by the unmarked Lee Wootton. It wasn't the cleanest connection but was enough to beat Croudson and Town again had to come back against another of the division's minnows.

If that was embarrassing, it could have been two on 30 minutes when a straightforward long ball found Town wanting and Omar Riza in on goal, but Croudson did well to get down and save the low drive with his feet.

Town were at sixes and sevens at the back at times, the Stutes growing in confidence under new boss Dave Livermore as the half wore on.

And after half-an-hour of patience, the home faithful began to vent their anger – and rightly so on this showing.

But, unlike the Hayes outing, they had a way back before half-time when Gobern went down in the box under the close attentions of Oluwafemi Ilesanmi and Romone McCrae and Ossett referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot.

In truth, it looked just as much a foul the other way as the trio grappled but it went in Town's favour.

Histon complained to no avail and Connell grabbed the ball before expertly sending Joe Welsh the wrong way and firing into the top left-hand corner.

The striker knew how important the goal was and attempted to gee up the crowd as he returned to restart.

But there was bad news for Town just before the break when Ademeno limped off dejected with what looked like yet another hamstring injury – Eagle on in his place as he trudged down the tunnel a picture of frustration.

Town started quickly after the interval, Connell trying to curl one in at the near post.

After making their first substitution at the same time as Town late in the first half, Histon were forced into another four minutes into the second period. Midfielder Ekan Okay was clearly not OK as he walked off holding his groin to be replaced by Lewis Taaffe.

Town's backline were sliced open yet again soon after but, thankfully for the home fans, Riza was ruled offside before he fired over anyway.

At the opposite end, Connell still looked the biggest threat for Woods' side and he curled a left-footer, on the turn, narrowly wide, and a free-kick dipping over.

But it just wasn't happening for Town up front and Woods threw on Tom Corner for Gobern with a quarter of the game remaining.

With just 15 travelling fans and a subdued home end, there was little to inspire Town and they couldn't get going at all.

But Connell wasn't about to give in and he forced a save from Welsh, albeit routine, when he got his head to another left-wing cross.

That gave the rest a jolt and Samuels tried to batter his way through from the edge of the box before the ball bounced out of his reach.

Then, Croudson kept Town in it with an unbelievable stop right on his line.

After Riza's header was blocked the stand-in stopper got down to stretch and get his left-hand to the second attempt from Taaffe and then clutch the loose ball right on his line.

As ever the response came from Connell – this time a right-foot dipper from 18 yards sailing wide of the mark with eight minutes to go.

By his side, Peaock worked hard without any real opportunities falling his way, but he was to be the provider for what could prove to be one of Town's most important goals of the season on 85 minutes.

He picked up the ball wide on the left and found his partner wonderfully and Town's top scorer met it with a sweet side-foot volley that nestled into the bottom corner.

The relief among the fans was mirrored on the pitch as the Town finally got their home campaign up and running and they started to play with more freedom.

Connell almost grabbed a third when he met another cross – this time from Eagle – but directed his effort slightly off-target this time.

Croudson was the saviour again in stoppage time, though, when he tipped a decent strike from Lanre Oyebanjo around the post, then coolly grabbed the resulting corner out of the air to relieve late pressure.

It was a struggle but Town got there in the end thanks to a keeper rolling back the years and a striker at his clinical best.