Notts County lifted themselves out of the bottom four by completing their third win in a row - the first time they have achieved such a consistent run for exactly a year.
It was a game which had the crowd on the edge of their seats from start to finish and could have gone either way until Notts snatched a third goal near the end.
Free-scoring Grimsby served notice on Notts by going ahead as early as the 11th minute when Tony Crane was left totally unmarked to nod through a free kick with the simplest header imaginable.
Notts began their fight back impressively and on 17 minutes were level. Darren Caskey flighted a corner which was flicked on into the path of Mickael Antoine-Curier who found the net for Notts for the first time - to the Frenchman's obvious glee.
Grimsby were soon rocking with a spate of Notts attacks and fell behind with just under half an hour played.
Slick work by Simon Baldry on the right led to an immaculate cross which Paul Heffernan headed home for his sixth goal in three matches.
Antoine-Curier had excellent chances both before and after the break to increase County's advantage but miscued badly with them all.
Grimsby set up a series of attacks after the break with substitute Darren Mansaram always a threat and Graham Hockless firing over Stuart Garden's bar with three splendid openings - he was particularly unfortunate on the first occasion when missing narrowly.
The issue was not settled until an enterprising work by Heffernan allowed him to rob Darren Barnard and square the ball to substitute Steve Scoffham who a month ago was playing non-league football with Gedling Town.
At short range, the 20 year old turned the ball inside Andy Pettinger's right-hand post for his first ever league goal.
Even after that, both sides had other chances and the pace remained furious to the finish.