THEY may not have packed the stadium to the rafters on Fill The Ground Day but no-one was complaining too much when the Shakers picked up the win that virtually assures them Football League safety.

A sizeable 5,671 did make the effort to help celebrate 120 years at Gigg Lane, and most newcomers will have gone home wondering how this team are as low in the League Two table as they are.

A catastrophic mid-season slump due to enforced transfers and injuries is the answer, but all the misery of recent months was briefly forgotten as Good Friday became Great Friday for Graham Barrow's side.

It helped that they got off to a fantastic start when striker Chris Porter headed home an opening goal inside 40 seconds. Then, when midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy volleyed home a second 11 minutes later, revenge for August's 5-1 routing at Blundell Park by a similar scoreline looked a distinct possibility.

In truth, the home side could have doubled their total before half-time with Jon Newby's pace a particular thorn in the visitors' side before he limped off with an Achilles injury just after the half hour mark.

Twice in first half stoppage time they could have put the game beyond the Mariners when, following a quick break, Porter fed Barry-Murphy in front of goal only for the Irishman to stumble while trying to turn, and seconds later Dwayne Mattis failed to get sufficient power in his shot after being sent through on goal.

Grimsby came out all guns blazing in the second half, helped by a change in formation that caught Bury on the hop.

Former Tranmere man Andy Parkinson switched to a role just behind the front two, but before further damage could be done, teenager Tom Kennedy, watched from the stands by his uncle, former Liverpool and England star Alan, reverted to a fine man-marking job on the Grimsby dangerman for the rest of the half.

Nevertheless, it looked 'game on' three minutes after the break when a loose ball in the Shakers box was superbly lashed home by former Sunderland man Michael Reddy. But another of the Shakers' promising youngsters finished the job and restored the two goal cushion before Town had a chance to capitalise on their goal.

Colin Kazim-Richards, who came on for Newby, showed just why Leicester City are keen to secure his services when he fired home a shot on the turn in the 52nd minute, for his first Football League goal.

Kazim-Richards almost added a second in the final minute when he beat goalkeeper Tony Williams to the ball and attempted an audacious chip from 40-yards that the Grimsby man only just managed to push around the post for a corner.

Meanwhile, on-loan Bolton man Ricky Shakes, nearly made it a debut to remember when he came off the bench. The 20-year-old Wanderers reserve raced half the length of the field before bursting into the box, however his weak shot was easy for Williams.

"It was really satisfying that both the public and the players responded to this day," said Shakers boss Graham Barrow.

"It shows that if we unite together we can have something going for us."

BURY: Garner, Whaley, Kennedy, Unsworth (Cartledge 58), Scott, Barry-Murphy,

Mattis, Flitcroft, Challinor, Porter (Shakes 81), Newby (Kazim-Richards 34).

Subs not used: Collinge and Boshell.

REFEREE: Mr N. Miller (Co Durham)

ATTENDANCE: 5,671