Striker Luke Cornwall earned battling Grimsby their first win at West Brom since 1932 with the all-important goal at the Hawthorns.

The 20-year-old, on loan from Fulham, was on target for the third time in three games and his latest vital strike left Albion still needing points to cement their place in the play-offs.

Cornwall, who has spent much of his season in Fulham reserves, struck in the 23rd minute when he punished slack play in the heart of the Albion defence.

A free-kick from John McDermott was headed on by former Albion defender Paul Groves. The ball flew straight to Cornwall, who was unmarked and made no mistake with a hard angled drive into the far corner of the net.

The opening half was disappointing and the first shot of the game did not come until the 20th minute when Albion's Des Lyttle blasted in a left-footer that took a deflection before being held by Welsh keeper Danny Coyne.

But after the break it was Gary Megson's promotion chasers who piled on the pressure and, in a torrid spell, they laid siege to the Grimsby goal.

Ruel Fox lashed in a shot that flew just inches over the crossbar while moments later Bob Taylor had an overhead kick fingertipped wide by the diving Coyne.

Then, in the 55th minute, striker Lee Hughes provided a great cross but Jason Roberts shot wide at the far post when he should have done far better.

Roberts was again at fault in the 66th minute when he had time and space but headed wide from another cracking move engineered by the busy Hughes.

Then, in the 69th minute, Roberts did get a shot on target but it was pushed over the bar by Coyne.

Grimsby, to their credit, battled fiercely and in the last minute they came close to increasing their advantage when substitute Michael Jeffrey had a shot brilliantly blocked on the line by keeper Hoult.

In the end Grimsby deserved their third successive victory.

Teams:

West Brom Hoult, Lyttle, Clement, Butler, Van Blerk (Adam Chambers 45), Fox (Quinn 78), Sneekes (Roberts 45), Appleton, Gilchrist, Taylor, Hughes.

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Sigurdsson.

Booked: Lyttle.

Grimsby Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Groves, Coldicott, Pouton, Campbell, Donovan, Livingstone, Cornwall (Jeffrey 70).

Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Butterfield, Willems, David Smith.

Booked: Coldicott, Campbell.

Goals: Cornwall 22.

Att: 16,504

Ref: G Cain (Bootle).