Keith Hill's side jumped to 3rd in the League Two table thanks to goals from Adam Rundle and Chris O'Grady.

The starting eleven threw up a few surprises, as Hill made three forced changes from the side that beat Barnet 2-1 last Saturday. Kenny Arthur kept his place in goal, but there was an unfamiliar look about the defensive four in front of him. Rory McArdle made his first appearance of the season at right-back in place of Scott Wiseman who missed out due to the injury he picked up last weekend. Nathan Stanton was ill, so in came Marcus Holness to partner Craig Dawson at centre back. Tom Kennedy kept his place at left-back. Gary Jones and Jason Kennedy continued their partnership and Simon Whalley started on the right. However, Adam Rundle started on the left in place of Will Buckley, who also missed out due to the injury he picked up last Saturday. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall partnered each other up front. There was a place for reserve goalkeeper Danny Taberner on the bench after Matty Edwards picked up a broken hand in the week, and Marcus Manga also won a place on the bench.

Lining up in their purple shirts, Dale looked to take the initiative to The Mariners in the opening minute. It looked as though Dale players were queuing up in the area to turn the ball home, but the ball was eventually cleared by Grimsby captain Ryan Bennett. The home side thought they had a shout for a sending off for Dale after five minutes when Marcus Holness used his strength to force Jean Louis Akpro to the ground, but the referee waved away the protests.

Grimsby had the opening chance of the game when Adrian Forbes should have done better after a cross from the right, but he skewed his shot high and wide of Kenny Arthur's goal. Dale's first chance came on ten minutes when Craig Dawson won a header in the Grimsby box, but his header strayed well wide of Grimsby goalkeeper Nick Colgan's right post. Gary Jones had an effort a minute later after a quick move from Dale, but his left-foot shot from distance went harmlessly wide.

The following ten minutes passed without many chances, although there were some hefty challenges being exchanged between the two sides. On twenty minutes a quick break from Dale almost created the opener. Tom Kennedy played in Simon Whalley down the left and almost in behind the Grimsby defence. He had Chris Dagnall at the back post in support, but he went on himself before having his shot blocked. The ball fell to Chris Dagnall just inside the area, but his curling left footed effort went just wide of Nick Colgan's right post.

Dale seemed to up the pressure, and that told in the 24^th minute when Adam Rundle broke the deadlock. Rory McArdle chipped a ball forward to Chris Dagnall who flicked the ball on to Rundle inside the area. He had the chance to take the shot early, but went onto his right-foot before coming back onto his left and slotting the all past Colgan with ease to give Keith Hill's side the lead.

Dale taking the lead is seeming an all too familiar event in recent weeks, although something Keith Hill's side have been looking to guard against is conceding a goal straight after scoring. Jean Louis Akpro almost cancelled out Adam Rundle's strike just a minute later when he fizzed a 25 yard shot towards the Dale goal. However, Kenny Arthur was equal to it and he preserved his clean sheet for now, although Tom Kennedy tried his best to beat his own 'keeper after half an hour. A free-kick came in from the left and evaded everybody before hitting Tom Kennedy on the shin. It looked to be rolling towards the Dale goal, but Arthur pounced on the ball just in time.

The away side almost doubled their lead in fantastic style just five minutes later. Work down the left between Adam Rundle and Tom Kennedy saw the former whip in a cross to Chris Dagnall. Dale's leading scorer chested the ball down well into the path of Chris O'Grady, whose right foot half volley just strayed wide of the Grimsby right post.

Dale had another chance to extend their lead with three minutes of the half remaining. Chris Dagnall picked up the ball and fed a superb ball into the path of Simon Whalley. He was free of his man in behind the defence, but the former Preston man couldn't get his shot away picked up the ball from his feet.

As half-time got ever nearer, Grimsby had two or three minutes of very high pressure on the Dale goal. Marcus Holness gave away a free kick in a dangerous area with two minutes remaining. The ball was headed back across goal from the far post, and after a bit of pinball inside the box, Josh Magennis eventually headed wide of Kenny Arthur's goal to relieve the pressure.

However, the pressure returned as the game went into stoppage time. Magennis laid a ball off to Jammal Shahin whose cross-shot was deflected straight to Adrian Forbes, but his shot was weak and cleared by Dale.

The referee's whistle went to signal the end of the first half and relieve Dale of the late Grimsby pressure, but overall the first half was one dominated by Keith Hill's side, and they were well worth their one goal lead.

As the second half kicked off, it was Grimsby who were looking to continue their late pressure from the first half. Rory McArdle did well to block a shot early on, and then Kenny Arthur did well to get down low and hold a shot from Arnauld Mendy.

With eight minutes gone in the second half, Dale's goal-scorer Adam Rundle had to make sure he stopped a Grimsby header on the line. Peter Sweeny flicked a header on form a corner and Rundle brought it down before clearing it. It looked to heading just wide, but Rundle had to make sure and did well. Sweeney had another opportunity with a header just seconds later, but his weak head looped wide of Kenny Arthur's right post.

Craig Dawson has been known for his quick feet after his two goals this season, and he almost bagged a third for the season in the 59^th minute. The ball fell to his feet from an attacking free-kick but his shot went just over the crossbar.

On the hour mark Dale captain Gary Jones came off for Dale Stephens. Gary Jones didn't pick up a noticeable knock, but Keith Hill obviously saw something to spring the change. Craig Dawson took on the captaincy.

Dale's hearts were in their mouths with 65 minutes gone when Peter Bore excited everyone after sprinting down the right and firing in a cross that evaded everyone. All it needed was a touch from anyone towards goal and the scores could well have been level.

Adam Rundle had a rare Dale opportunity in the 70^th minute when Chris Dagnall played him in down the right. He twisted and turned inside the box, but his final shot was weak and Nick Colgan managed to pick the ball up with ease. Dagnall himself had an opportunity just a minute later when he drove forward with the ball before firing over with his left foot. He had Whalley open to his left, but Dale's number nine chose to go for goal.

Dale were starting to exert a little more control on the game as the clock ticked on. Chris O'Grady cut inside from the right before firing a left-footed shot towards goal which was deflected out for Dale's second corner of the game.

With little over ten minutes remaining, Adam Rundle again almost carved out another opportunity for himself. He picked up the ball on the right and beat two men before curling a left-footed shot over the bar. This was to be his last action as he was replaced by Joe Thompson with 9 minutes remaining.

Grimsby had their best chance to equalise with 7 minutes remaining. Peter Bore picked up the ball on the right hand side and laid off Josh Magennis whose shot was fired at Kenny Arthur's goal, but it took a knick off the top of the bar and went over to safety.

But with five minutes remaining, Dale made the game safe with a second goal. Chris Dagnall flicked the ball onto Joe Thompson on the right side of the box. He set the ball back to Chris O'Grady on the edge of the box. The on-loan striker's shot was deflected on its way to goal, but it nestled safely in the back of Nick Colgan's goal, doubling Dale's advantage.

This really made the game safe and Keith Hill saw the opportunity fit to bring on Dale's newest acquisition Marcus Manga. He replaced Chris Dagnall with two minutes to go and as the game went into the second of four minutes of added the time, the Frenchman almost made it a dream debut. He picked up the ball around 30 yards out with a lot of grass in front of him, before driving forward and unleashing a fierce effort at goal which was well held by Nick Colgan.

This was to be the last action of the game, but for Manga almost beating the offside trap after Dale had passed the ball around what seemed every blade of grass, much to the delight of the 478 Dale fans behind the goal and to former Dale boss Steve Parkin who not only watched the game went to congratulate the Dale management team at the final whistle.

It's onto Accrington Stanley at home on Saturday now, as Keith Hill's men look to continue their fine form.

Grimsby: Colgan, Bennett, Sweeney, Forbes, Bore, Linwood, Shahin, Mendy, Magennis, Akpro, Wood.

Dale: Arthur, Holness, Dawson, McArdle, T Kennedy, Jones, J Kennedy, Whalley, Rundle, O'Grady, Dagnall.

Attendance: 3,754 (478).