Kabongo Tshimanga gave Swindon Town that festive cheer with his brace as they defeated playoff-chasing Grimsby Town 3-1.

Having lacked energy last week, Swindon were recharged and flying from the off on home turf and Ollie Clarke and Kabongo Tshimanga built a solid lead to protect.

Tshimanga then lashed home a third before Danny Rose tucked home a penalty to create yet another nervy ending.

A second straight win at home meant that Town moved up a place in the League Two table and a little bit further away from the trap door to the National League.

Ian Holloway went back to his experienced heads as they returned from injury, with captain Clarke and Grant Hall both coming straight into the starting line-up. With the defensive injury crisis of last week slightly abating, Swindon also moved back to a defensive trio having started a back four at Bradford City last weekend.

With the spirit of protest still hanging in the air, it was Swindon who looked to cause disruption on the pitch from the off against their playoff-chasing opposition.

Within seconds George Cox put in a tantalising free kick that curled perfectly for someone to get on the end of but nobody in red could get the telling touch.

That would not be an issue for much longer as Kabongo Tshimanga and a defender tussled for the right to get on a long ball. Harvey Rodgers got a toe on it to stab the ball away from the striker, but Ollie Clarke came crashing into the space and slammed home the opener after just three minutes.

Harry Smith had two swings to get a misery compiler as he held off a defender to slam the ball against the crossbar on the turn. It came back off the connection and Smith was the most alive for the rebound but could only turn his shot over the top.

The Mariners looked all at sea in the mini gale blowing around The Nigel Eady County Ground during the first half. They were missing kicks and being outmuscled as Swindon came on ferociously trying to take advantage of the rapid start.

That energetic opening did seem to fade as the first 45 minutes went on. Grimsby were able to take the sting out of the game and begin to impose their style. Danny Rose and Jordan Davies were finding some space running beyond Swindon and creating room in the midfield.

But Swindon were taking advantage of the elements and set pieces remained a consistent danger, with Will Wright getting across the near post after 35 minutes and seeing his flicked header cleared off the line.

With the game listing in the wind a little bit, it was one of the set pieces which came up big for Swindon. A free kick from deep briefly became head tennis in the middle before a wayward defensive header fell to Tshimanga to smash it beyond Jordan Wright.

In a massive game for Swindon for so many reasons, the players did not look daunted and were stepping up to the plate to deliver.

The post got in the way of Swindon extending their lead even further seconds after the restart when Rodgers got the ball stuck under his feet and Smith slid a pass into Tshimanga. With space in front of him, he got the shot away but struck the upright.

Even without the wind, Swindon were the team flying high. A corner had Grimsby scrambling before Joel Cotterill’s venomous effort was blocked by an arm. For the seventh time this season Swindon had a penalty. Wright stepped up to take it and for the sixth time this season, they could not convert with his strike flying wildly beyond the target.

For various reasons, they had not been able to assert themselves this season, but Clarke and Tshimanga proved their worth in this one. After Billy Kirkman won the ball back excellently, Clarke slipped a ball through the eye of a needle to give Tshimanga a perfect chance to smash in his second.

But, as has all too often been the case, Swindon were the ones to hand their opponents the momentum rather than them having to take it. Gavin Kilkenny was caught dallying on the ball on the edge of the box and then made a rash tackle to give away a penalty. Rose stepped up and showed Swindon how it was done by sending Dan Barden the wrong way.

Town were never going to give themselves the easy way out despite looking to have the points wrapped up at 3-0. But despite their sparkling away record, Grimsby never truly showed their worth and Swindon held on.

On a day when the Swindon fans had shown their passion for their club, the players comprehensively proved they showed they share the same desire to get out of this.

STFC starting XI: Barden, Sobowale, Delaney, Wright, Cotterill, Clarke, Smith, Kilkenny, Tshimanga, Hall, Cox.

STFC substitutes: Bycroft, Ofoborh, Longelo, Butterworth, Kirkman, Ameen.

GTFC starting XI: Wright, Cass, Rodgers, McEachran, Barrington, Luker, Davies, Green, Rose, McJannet, Hume.

GTFC substitutes: Auton, Tharme, Khouri, Ainley, Pyke, Gardener, Carson.

Attendance: 7,453 (661 away).