Darren Bent grabbed a last-minute leveller to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Grimsby.

First-half goals from Paul Groves and Michael Boulding had given the visitors the upper hand but Grimsby had to withstand a second-half onslaught from Joe Royle's men.

Bent had managed to grab a 12th-minute equaliser after Groves opened the scoring. But Grimsby were soon ahead again after poor defending from Ipswich allowed Boulding to restore the advantage, before Bent's late leveller.

Player-manager Groves had taken advantage of a mix-up in the home defence after a free-kick by Richard Hughes on eight minutes to drive in from five yards, leaving James Pullen with no chance.

Royle's men were level within four minutes, with Darren Bent notching from close range after a good cross from Marcus Bent.

Ipswich then pushed for a second - Darren Ambrose volleying over from distance, and Bent heading wide when well-placed - before the visitors took the lead for the second time midway through the half.

Boulding started and finished the move, running unchallenged into the danger area and scoring left-footed under the body of Pullen.

Chris Makin, Thomas Gaardsoe, Richard Naylor and Ambrose all attempted to put in crosses to no avail, and Matt Holland tried his luck from distance, with the ball flying wide, as time ticked by.

Naylor headed wide from a Darren Bent cross, before Miller drilled wide from the edge of the box, as the home side tried everything in their pursuit of an equaliser.

Jermaine Wright, Makin, Tommy Miller and Fabian Wilnis all put in crosses in the last 10 minutes that were cleared, before Darren Bent finally equalised for the second time from close range after being teed up by Gaardsoe.

Teams

Ipswich Pullen, Wilnis, Gaardsoe, McGreal (Naylor 45), Makin, Miller, Holland, Magilton (Wright 45), Darren Bent, Marcus Bent, Ambrose (Reuser 78).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Armstrong.

Goals: Darren Bent 12, 89.

Grimsby Coyne, McDermott, Santos, Ford, Gallimore, Coldicott, Groves (Bolder 80), Richard Hughes, Campbell, Oster, Boulding.

Subs Not Used: Allaway, Barnard, Chettle, Soames.

Booked: Ford.

Goals: Groves 8, Boulding 24.

Att: 24,118

Ref: R Olivier (Sutton Coldfield).