Image source, Shutterstock

It started slowly but that was a proper night of floodlit EFL football, some sublime, some ridiculous and all of it done at 100mph.

Joe Murphy has given hope to 44-year-olds everywhere that maybe their best isn't behind them, with a second-half he could probably have only dreamed of when his career began 26 years ago.

Darragh Burns shone in the same second half and it's cruel it was his last-gasp slip which allowed Kristian Dennis the chance to prod the winner.

Onwards and upwards for Rovers, but time for reflection for the Mariners, who could be in the bottom half come Saturday evening.

Thanks for your company tonight, we're back tomorrow for the Championship clash between Oxford United and Ipswich and we'll be here throughout Saturday for all the thrills and spills of the EFL programme.

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

Grimsby Town

Grimsby boss David Artell thinks his side were robbed by Tranmere's last-minute winner.

He told BBC Radio Humberside: "We made a bit of a tactical tweak at half-time and reminded them of our build principles and it helped. They could have done that first half and we're trying to get that message on to them, they know how to do it, they showed that.

"The sort of negative is that we didn't take the chances when they came along and we end up getting kicked in the proverbials and we definitely didn't deserve it.

"It was robbery really."

Grimsby Town

Grimsby boss David Artell gave his reaction to BBC Radio Humberside:

"Frustrated. I think everyone in the ground's frustrated. Two reasons.

"Obviously the result and the fact that we wasted 45 minutes hoofing the ball up front in the first half and trying to play the type of football we don't want to play and if you do that, one we'll concede a goal or two, and you've waited 45 minutes to play the football we saw in the second half.

"Give the lads credit, they took on board what we told them at half-time in no uncertain terms and played much better and dominated, you know, a half of football where we should have been out of sight before we got a kick in the shins.

"So, if you don't take your chances at one end, a lucky ricochet suddenly ends up in the back of our goal and we end up with no points from a performance that deserved much more."

Click on the 'report' tab at the top of the page to read tonight's match report.

Image source, Opta

Three touches in 19 minutes of action on the pitch, one helping to clear a corner in his own box, another holding the ball up, and then... the close-range toe-poke which won the game on the former Grimsby loanee's return to Blundell Park.

Roy of the Rovers? Kristian of the Rovers...

Rovers are within four points of the play-offs and boss Andy Crosby hopes they can continue the momentum, saying: "The challenge was to win the game, playing first (this weekend), to go within four points.

"We've not been together for too long and at times you can see inconsistency, but you can see progress.

"To come here and score two goals, we showed a lot of resilience and hopefully it will help us grow.

"We're looking at the table. We have closed that gap, I think and hope as a new group we're only going to get better."

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Tranmere boss Andy Crosby speaking to Sky Sports: "The main thing is the resilience of the group, to come away to a very good team (and get a result).

"Our keeper made some brilliant stops, we put our bodies on the line and showed mental toughness, which we have questioned.

"We got hit on the jaw, our knees wobbled but we didn't go down.

"Brilliant credit to the players for their resilience. There's no better way to go home than a last-minute winner."

Here's what that late winner means.

Well, position-wise, not much - Tranmere stay 16th despite the dramatic victory, while Grimsby remain ninth.

But the win moves Rovers within four points of the play-off spots and eight points clear of danger.

Grimsby, meanwhile, miss the chance of climbing back into the top seven - and could well be outside the top half come the end of the weekend if other results go against them.

Image source, Shutterstock

Former Grimsby loanee Kristian Dennis returned to grab a 96th-minute winner at Blundell Park and told Sky Sports: "We've shown resilience. we had to withstand pressure but luckily we got a chance at the end and won the game.

"We've sent the fans home with something to cheer about."

Rovers remain 16th but are just four points outside the play-off places in a congested table and Dennis added: "It puts us a few points off the play-offs, hopefully we can stay in and around it and keep pushing up the table towards the end of the season."

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Tranmere goalscorer Charlie Whitaker speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a tough second half but we fought until the end. We went through the pressure and Denno came up with the winner and it's delightful.

"We mentioned before the game we wanted to start (the weekend) well and put pressure on other teams, now we want to keep the momentum going."

On his 19th-minute curler from 20 yards which broke the deadlock: "I just won the second ball after Joe Ironside's flick-on, it went in a bit slow but it went in the corner so I'm happy."

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A slow burner which really caught fire in the second half ends in huge drama.

Kristian Dennis returns to Blundell Park to win it for Tranmere in the final seconds.

Charlie Whitaker's 20-yard curler into the bottom corner on 19 minutes gave Rovers a lead to defend, and they did it brilliantly until Darragh Burns struck a 20-yarder of his own in off the post midway through the second half.

Joe Murphy somehow kept Tranmere in the game with a stunning stop to deny Burns a second.

But Burns made the vital, unfortunate, contribution at the other end, failing to cut out a Jayden Joseph cross deep into added time and offering sub Dennis the chance to poke past Christy Pym to win it and take Rovers within four points of the play-offs.

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

You can't believe it can you. It's not deserved at all. It's an absolute hammer blow. Grimsby have been far the best team in the last 25 minutes.

Rovers keeper Joe Murphy is playing like he's 24 not 44, he brilliantly reads a curling cross into his six-yard box and dives bravely to claim the bouncing ball cleanly under pressure.

Jayden Joseph has gone down on his haunches for the visitors and we'll have a brief break in play, which disrupts the Town momentum once again.

Is that the chance?

Tranmere win a corner and send up their big guns. Nathan Smith wins the header and it loops forward to the newly-introduced Luton loanee Taylan Harris, who has his back to goal, six yards out.

Harris spins on a sixpence swinging his leg but can't make contact and it bounces through to the grateful Christy Pym.

We're into SIX added minutes at the end of this game, plenty of time for at least one more goal, surely?

Charlie Whitaker is withdrawn late-on with Taylan Harris coming on to try and see the game out for Rovers.

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

Can't fault the changes, we're going for it aren't we?

Town are trying to complete the turnaround here, pushing forward in the closing stages, but a low cross from the right flashes across the six-yard box without a black and white shirt in sight.

Town return to their bench as Danny Rose and Jamie Walker are hooked with Justin Amaluzor and Clarke Odour coming on for what looks to be a thrilling finale.