Struggling Grimsby drew with high-flying Bolton at a packed The Reebok Stadium to hold back the Trotters' promotion charge.

Bolton started the game brighter with Michael Ricketts firing an early effort just wide of the target.

And the Mariners were forced to sit back and absorb the early pressure, but they did look to counter-attack and Paul Groves should have hit the target with a close-range header in the seventh minute.

Lennie Lawrence's side, who eased their relegation worries with a 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, gained confidence as the game progressed and Menno Willems went close with a 20-yard effort after 10 minutes.

And they were finally rewarded for their inventive play when Groves broke the deadlock in the 35th-minute after good work from Stuart Campbell.

Bolton pushed forward in search of the equaliser and Ricketts was proving a real threat, but Town goalkeeper Danny Coyne produced a brilliant save to deny him in the 43rd minute.

The home side came out with all guns blazing in the second half as they looked to get back on level terms.

But they had to wait until just past the hour to restore parity as Gudni Bergsson levelled the match after 61 minutes.

Lawrence's men were not to be undone however and they restored their lead just three minutes later through Zhang Enhua.

Just as you thought that Sam Allardyce's side were going to be thwarted by the struggling Mariners, inspirational midfielder Bo Hansen popped up with 16 minutes remaining to ensure his side took a share of the spoils.

For Bolton it could prove a costly two points dropped - especially with leaders Fulham falling to Burnley and nearest rivals Blackburn and Birmingham registering victories.

Teams:

Bolton: Banks, O'Kane, Bergsson, Elliott, Hendry, Summerbee (Holdsworth 45), Frandsen, Farrelly, Hansen, Gardner, Ricketts (Nolan 86).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Charlton, Passi.

Booked: Ricketts.

Goals: Bergsson 61, Hansen 74.

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Willems, Enhua, David Smith, Groves, Donovan, Coldicott, Campbell, Livingstone, Jeffrey.

Subs Not Used: Butterfield, Croudson, Handyside, Rowan, Black.

Booked: McDermott.

Goals: Groves 35, Enhua 64.

Att: 24,249

Ref: P Joslin (Newark, Notts).