A CHANGE is as good as a rest? Not so for John Coleman.

For, despite making six alterations to his starting line-up - with five making their full first-team debuts - Accrington Stanley failed to arrest their losing streak.

Joe Jacobson, Adam Dugdale and David Mannix were thrown straight into the starting line-up after signing on loan until the end of next month on Thursday, while Shaun Whalley and Leighton McGivern started for the first time since their arrival earlier this month. In the mix, centre half Robbie Williams was moved to right back.

And what a baptism of fire it proved to be for the newcomers.

Whether manager Coleman would make the same decision if the clock could be turned back, who knows? But changes to such an extent failed to have the effect he clearly desired.

The defence, or more so the defending of the team as a whole, has come in for criticism since their last league win, at Torquay six weeks ago.

But it was telling that the back line was reverted to type just seven minutes into the second half.

Perhaps it was one change too many at the beginning.

But the new additions weren't helped by a lack of sufficient time to bed in. They were denied that luxury when Martin Paterson, one of three loan deadline day signings for Grimsby, scored on his own debut.

There had been cause for optimism in the Reds' camp when they threatened to draw first blood, through Mannix - one of three debutants - when he swung in a dangerous free kick in the third minute. But as it curved into a packed penalty area, no-one could get the necessary touch to test goalkeeper Phil Barnes.

In fact, 76 minutes past before the Mariners stopper was forced into a save. And therein lies one problem in Stanley's recent slump.

Andy Procter had a goal chalked off for offside five minutes after going behind. Andy Todd did prompt Barnes into action but the flag was raised then also. And it wasn't until the second half that Stanley were able to establish any attacking momentum.

Todd and Mannix had good chances but failed to hit the target while Paul Mullin, who was the one to eventually test Barnes in the second half, also saw a header drop wide.

Grimsby, on the other hand, were much more clinical, and the result would have been even more comprehensive had it not been for some excellent saves by Ian Dunbavin.

In the aftermath of Mannix's early chance, Dunbavin denied Grimsby's leading scorer Lee Jones from a tight angle before parrying Paterson's first shot following Dugdale's half clearance.

Even at that early stage, Alan Buckley's men were prominent down the right, and when former Blackburn Rovers defender Gary Croft delivered a killer ball into the box, Dunbavin could only push out. Veteran Jones missed the opportunity to put it into an empty net, instead coaxing Dunbavin back to his left hand post, where on-loan Stoke City front man Paterson stole in to stab past the disorientated Stanley stopper.

Mullin prompted a response as he charged onto a long ball forward, knocked it back for Mannix and the on-loan Liverpool youngster was unlucky to hit the post. Procter was even more unfortunate to see the linesman's flag after knocking in the rebound.

But Grimsby built up a head of steam and Michael Welch got back in time to deflect Paterson's clear shot at Dunbavin, then the Stanley stopper kept out Peter Till's low shot with his legs.

Grimsby, keen to prompt a turn-around in fortunes in manager Buckley's first home game in his third spell as manager, continued to dominate the half, with Croft exploiting Jacobson's lack of first team experience with his probing runs down the right to produce some dangerous deliveries.

Dugdale made a goalline clearance from Nick Hegarty just before the break after Dunbavin blocked a shot with his backside, keeping Stanley in with a fighting chance of a comeback in the second half.

But when Justin Whittle defied his bandaged head to power Tom Newey's cross towards the roof of the net, bringing another superb save from Dunbavin, Coleman went back to his tried and tested defence, with Phil Edwards replacing Jacobson and Leam Richardson coming on for Dugdale.

That meant Williams was restored to his favoured centre half position, alongside Welch, while Edwards and Richardson took up their more familiar right back and left back roles respectively.

And Stanley came close to benefitting from Richardson's ability to get forward when he fired a good cross over for Todd. And while the winger failed to find the target, the flag was raised in any case.

That left Richardson scampering back as Grimsby pumped the ball back upfield. And from a position of such promise, they were left with an even bigger mountain to climb as Jones hit his fifth of the season with the outside of his right boot.

It was a sweet finish, but it left a sour taste for Stanley.

Newey might have added a third had it not been for Williams' brilliantly timed challenge inside the box.

Andy Mangan replaced McGivern as the Reds tried to get back into the game. And they dominated for the next 15 minutes or so.

Michael Welch's free kick found Mullin, but the striker's header dropped agonisingly wide of an empty net as Barnes hesitated in going for the ball.

Mannix scooped a 25-yard effort over, Todd bobbled a chance wide while Mullin got an extra touch to another Mannix shot, from which the keeper made his first save.

A late Grimsby surge brought out the best in Dunbavin, as he made a smart double-handed diving save from Till's 18-yard drive.

With four minutes to go, Paterson left the field to a standing ovation. A new Mariners hero was hailed, while an old face at Blundell Park came on to almost put the result beyond doubt as Isaiah Rankin threatened to make it three.

Referee Phil Joslin signalled a fifth straight league defeat for Stanley soon after.

As Grimsby celebrated a first league win in seven games, the stadium announcer reminded fans of the points to be made up to reach the play-off places.

His optimism is to not only be admired, but heeded, because Stanley need the same amount. And with a change in fortune, there could still plenty to play for.

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