Grimsby Town returned to the play-off places with a statement 3-0 victory over promotion rivals Port Vale at Blundell Park.

In the final game of 2024, first goals of the season for centre-backs Cameron McJannet and Doug Tharme, and a second in as many games for Jason Dadi Svanthrosson in stoppage time, saw the Mariners produce one of their best results of the season.

Rico Richards tested Jordan Wright early as he broke through the heart of the Town block, weaving his way to the edge of the box and curling a shot with his right foot that the Grimsby stopper was able to palm away.

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Shooting opportunities were not free-slowing for the Mariners in the opening passages. Still, they were seeing plenty of the ball and pushing the visitors into their defensive third of the pitch.

Jesse Debrah may have been fortunate to just see yellow for his aerial challenge on Cameron McJannet just 15 minutes into the game, with the Vale forward seemingly leading with something other than his head.

Jayden Luker had Town’s first proper attempt on target in the 23rd minute as he received the ball off Lewis Cass on the right wing near the byline, cutting inside and looking to go just inside the near post with his shot that Conor Ripley saved.

Danny Rose then headed wide soon after, and Grimsby looked to apply more pressure on the Vale goal after some periods of early possession.

Town were in the ascendancy as the first half progressed, and they took the lead that their forward pressure had warranted - centre-back McJannet getting the all-important touch from a yard or two out to take the ball over the line as it was looped over the goalkeeper.

Jordan Davies provided the perfectly-weight cross that had to be put away and was to the delight of the home crowd.

That early chance for Richards aside, the visitors were frustrated by Town in the first half and could not get the response they would have hoped for after going a goal down. Danny Rose forced a save from Ripley from a tight angle in one of the final actions of the first period as Town pushed the break further ahead.

The first 45 did not include many goalscoring opportunities, but the Mariners took the biggest chance of the half to lead at the break.

Lewis Cass was forced off early in the second half with what looked to be a fairly serious issue, and David Artell was booked simultaneously for remonstrating with the fourth official.

It was a cagey opening to the second period with not many chances at either end in the first 15 minutes. Rose challenged Ripley with an audacious volleyed attempt that rolled along the ground and required a diving stop.

The visitors were finally able to test Wright in the second half, with 15 minutes of normal time to go, when Connor Hall volleyed on target as the ball headed into his path from a long throw.

Vale were looking to keep pushing Town further back in search of an equaliser, but a free-kick won high up the pitch by Rose produced a second Grimsby goal less than ten minutes from time.

Substitute Tharme headed in from a Denver Hume delivery, with the ball looping high in the air over Ripley and any opposition defenders before bouncing into the net and giving Town the safety blanket of a two-goal lead.

Kieran Green almost had a chance of adding a third as a low corner delivery fell at his feet, but he did not quite have the space and time to produce a powerful enough effort to concern Ripley. A third did come from Town’s Icelandic winger, who profited from some sloppy play at the back from the visitors to get around the goalkeeper and tuck in from a tight angle, rounding off a terrific victory for the Mariners.