TWO goals in as many second-half minutes from Sam Surridge effectively made sure Latics sunk the Mariners as they eventually navigated their way to a deserved away victory on the north Lincolnshire coast.

Substitute Jose Baxter put the icing on the cake with a third in added time but Athletic had long-since plundered all three points – though they did take a while to get going.

Fish is the order of the day in Cleethorpes – the whiff of deep-fried haddock engulfs surroundings at Blundell Park – and as the home side seemed content to play on the break casting out long balls from the back in a bid to catch out the visitors, Latics refused to take the bait, patiently waiting for an opening.

Frankie Bunn made one change from last week’s defeat to Newport with Daniel Iversen returning in goal following international duty with Denmark under-21s. Fit-again Ishmael Miller made the bench. Jonathan Benteke missed out altogether and Giles Coke remained sidelined.

In a low-key start to the game in which neither side created an awful lot going forward, Grimsby had the best chance to open the scoring when Elliot Embleton’s close-range shot was forced wide for a corner when it looked easier to score.

Lone frontman Wes Thomas gave George Edmundson plenty to think about at the back but the defender overcame a shaky start to steady the ship.

Callum Lang headed Chris O’Grady’s left-wing cross wide as Athletic finally began to wake up on 34 minutes. Surridge’s low shot was palmed away for a corner soon after.

The signs were there. And so it proved 18 minutes into the second half when Surridge found space, ran at the defence and coolly picked his spot low into the corner.

If that was good, things got even better two minutes later when Surridge produced a virtual action replay, again taking on the home rearguard and firing home.

The second, in particular, brought boos and derision from the restless natives. How quickly things can turn.

And though Grimsby had their moments late on – Iversen was called into action on more than one occasion – Baxter came off the bench to head home Dan Gardner’s cross.

It sent the large travelling army into raptures as they dined out on another successful trip – Athletic are still unbeaten on the road – and had the home faithful first in the queue at the nearest chippy.

Latics are now up to sixth.

LATICS (4-4-2): Iversen 7, Hunt 7, Edmundson 7, Clarke 7, Taylor 7; Branger-Engone 6, Missilou 7, Gardner 7, Lang (Nepomuceno 61, 6) 6; Surridge (Miller 82, 6) 8, O’Grady (Baxter 78, 7) 7. Subs (not used): De La Paz, Graham, Maouche, Hamer.

GRIMSBY: McKeown, Collins, Hessenthaler, Rose, Cook (Vernam 25), Famewo (Pringle 76), Woolford, Embleton (Hooper 69), Davis, Hendrie, Thomas. Subs (not used): Robles, Clifton, Russell, Whitmore.

Attendance: 4,746 (832 away).