Dean Holdsworth's second-half strike handed Bolton three crucial promotion-chasing points against Grimsby at a blustery Blundell Park.

But Bolton boss Colin Todd, who was awarded the January manager of the month earlier this week, must have wondered how his side had held out after a first-half barrage from the home side.

Todd's Grimsby counterpart Alan Buckley, denied the services of forwards Steve Livingstone, Jack Lester and Lee Ashcroft through injury, employed Lee Nogan as a loan striker for the fourth consecutive game.

Nogan was lively in the opening exchanges and Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was forced to hurtle out of his area to clear as the Welsh striker raced onto Tony Gallimore's eighth-minute through ball.

Bolton skipper Scott Sellars had forced Grimsby keeper Aidan Davison into a comfortable second-minute save but it was Grimsby who created the clear cut chances.

Jaaskelainen was almost punished after spilling Gallimore's 20-yard drive but Mick Whitlow saved his blushes, heading over the bar after Kingsley Black had returned the loose ball into the six yard box.

Jaaskelainen was having a torrid opening to the game and he spilled a Black effort minutes later, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

A flowing move from the home side ended with Jaaskelainen in action again, the Finnish keeper doing well to hold onto a Nogan diving header from a Kevin Donovan cross.

Winger David Smith was unlucky to see an audacious 20-yard effort from wide on the left fall inches wide before a Black free kick and a Donovan volley two minutes before the break forced further Jaaskelainen saves.

Grimsby continued to set the pace at the beginning of the second half and after Jaaskelainen clawed down a Nogan centre under pressure, Mark Fish and substitute Robbie Elliott did well to sandwich out Black's shot.

But it was the visitors who took the lead with the aid of the elements.

Per Frandsen's punt forward caught the wind, causing Davison to misjudge a punch on the edge of the area, under pressure from Holdsworth.

Davison missed the ball completely, leaving the former Wimbledon striker the simple task of side footing the ball home.

Teams:

Grimsby: Davison, McDermott, Gallimore (Clare 61), Handyside, R. Smith, Coldicott, Donovan (Lever 82), D. Smith (Widdrington 87), Nogan, Black, Groves.

Booked: R. Smith.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Cox, Whitlow, Frandsen, Warhurst (Elliott 15), Fish, Johansen, Jensen (Gardner 69), Holdsworth, Taylor, Sellars.

Subs Not Used: Gudjohnson.

Booked: Fish.

Goals: Holdsworth 54.

Att: 8,674

Ref: B Burns (Scarborough).