Grimsby fought off a second half challenge from Portsmouth to grab three vital points in their fight again relegation.

The Mariners looked to be cruising when they went 2-0 up through Kevin Donovan and Steve Livingstone.

But, inspired by player-boss Steve Claridge, Pompey stages a second half revival, pulling a goal back through Lee Bradbury in the 72nd minute.

And it was only a great save by Danny Coyne from Bradbury that denied the visitors a point.

Grimsby went ahead after great work by striker Michael Jeffrey. He turned Jason Crowe down the left and cut inside before seeing his shot charged down by Darren Moore. But the loose ball ran to Donovan who fired across keeper Aaron Flahaven and into the far corner.

And The Mariners made it 2-0 three minutes later. John McDermott played a clever one-two with Donovan and then delivered a low shot which Flahaven could only block, giving Livingstone an easy conversion from five yards.

Portsmouth went close to pulling a goal back almost immediately but Nigel Quashie was denied by Coyne as he raced through unmarked.

Grimsby should have made it three five minutes before the break but midfielder Wayne Burnett missed a sitter. David Smith's cross from the left fell to the unmarked midfielder 10 yards out, but he went for power rather than placement and blasted over the bar.

Substitute Shaun Derry saw a close-range header held by Coyne as Pompey looked to get back into the game after the break.

But it was Grimsby who almost made it three in the 54th minute Donovan beat three men in a run across the box before slipping the ball through to Menno Willems who dragged his shot wide of the post with only the keeper to beat.

Pompey player-boss Claridge decided to lead from the front when going on in the 54th minute.

And his backheel unhinged the Grimsby defence in the 65th minute, sending substitute Mike Poutonnull away down the left.

His cross was met by Bradbury whose header was brilliantly kept out by a one-handed Coyne save.

Pompey did pull a goal back in the 72nd minute. Bradbury beat the offside trap down the left and cut in before beating the advancing Coyne with a low right-foot shot.

Claridge's men then pushed Grimsby back as they searched for the equaliser but it was the home side who should have scored with a late chance.

Livingstone broke away down the left and crossed for Donovan whose point-blank shot was somehow kept out by the keeper.

Teams

Grimsby Coyne, McDermott, David Smith, Groves, Enhua, Donovan, Willems, Burnett, Campbell, Livingstone, Jeffrey (Pouton 75).

Subs Not Used: Raven, Chapman, Rowan, Croudson.

Booked: Willems, Burnett.

Goals: Donovan 17, Livingstone 20.

Portsmouth Flahavan, Hiley, Crowe, Moore, Miglioranzi, Hughes (Claridge 54), Harper (Panopoulos 41), Thogersen (Derry 45), Quashie, Bradbury, Nightingale.

Subs Not Used: Tardiff, Waterman.

Goals: Bradbury 72.

Att: 4,128

Ref: M Pike (Barrow-in-Furness).