Lee Ashcroft's 10th goal of the season gave Grimsby their first point against the Blades in four seasons.

Ashcroft struck in the 74th minute to level after Marcus Bent and Paul Hall had responded to Jack Lester's opener.

Sheffield-born Lester looked like upsetting his hometown club when he opened the scoring in the 15th minute.

David Smith's corner was played back to the winger and his second ball in was met at the far post by Lester whose downward header found the net.

The Blades were stung into action and Bent levelled with a header in the 23rd minute. Michael Brown flung over a cross from the left and Bent out-jumped the Grimsby defence to power his header past Danny Coyne.

Centre-back Mark Lever headed past the angle for Grimsby from another Smith corner while Martin Smith shot straight at Coyne when unmarked in the box.

Then Stacy Coldicott also shot straight at the keeper when played clear by Lester.

The Blades forged ahead in the 60th minute with a fine goal from Hall.

Again Brown was the goal maker, racing forward before giving Hall a shooting opportunity on the right.

His first shot was brilliantly saved by Coyne but the rebound fell to Hall who made no mistake with his left foot.

Grimsby manager Alan Buckley threw on Bradley Allen for the last 25 minutes and he made the equaliser.

Allen broke away on the right and his pinpoint cross was swept home by Ashcroft.

Teams:

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Lever (Allen 72), Livingstone, Gallimore, Donovan, Coldicott, Groves, Smith (Buckley 46), Ashcroft, Lester.

Subs Not Used: Croudson, Butterfield, Pouton.

Booked: Ashcroft.

Goals: Lester 16, Ashcroft 81.

Sheff Utd: Tracey, Quinn, Sandford, Murphy, Kozluk, Brown, Ford, Derry, Hall (Woodhouse 75), Bent, Smith (Katchouro 90).

Subs Not Used: Hunt, Hamilton, Gybreches.

Booked: Murphy.

Goals: Bent 23, Hall 60.

Att: 7,618

Ref: W Burns (Scarborough).