����ý

Grimsby virtually secured their English Football League survival for another season with an emphatic 3-0 win at play-off hopefuls Crewe thanks to goals from Toby Mullarkey, Curtis Thompson and Denver Hume.

The Mariners are six points clear of second-bottom Sutton, who only have two games to play, and also have a far superior goal difference.

Justin Obikwu wasted an early opening for the visitors when he was put clear in the box, but he took too much sizing up goal and Lewis Billington's intervention steered the striker's effort past the post.

On-loan debutant Crewe goalkeeper Max Stryjek, whose move from Wycombe Wanderers was , was at fault for the Grimsby opener on 38 minutes.

Doug Tharme's long-throw was headed on by Mullarkey, but Stryjek pushed the ball weakly into the air and was then unable to prevent it creeping over the line.

The visitors doubled their lead from another set play just before the hour mark when Thompson volleyed home Charles Vernam's outswinging corner from the edge of the box.

Crewe's response was tame, although Jake Eastwood needed to take evasive action to prevent Nevitt's block on his clearance from crossing the line and then the Grimsby keeper did well to keep out an effort from Charlie Finney in the closing minutes.

But substitute Hume rounded off the Mariners' afternoon when he finished off into the far corner after Donovan Wilson cut the ball across the box.

Crewe were allowed to sign Stryjek on an emergency loan following injuries to Tom Booth and Harvey Davies, which had left them with 17-year-old teenager Mikolaj Lenarcik as their only fit keeper.

Match report supplied by PA Media.