SWINDON Town’s hopes of reaching the League Two play-offs are over after Phil Brown’s men slipped to a 1-0 loss at home against Grimsby.

The defeat, plus Lincoln’s victory over Colchester’s, condemned Town to another season in the bottom tier of the EFL with two matches still to play.

Meanwhile Grimsby edged a step closer to survival as their win today leaves them five points clear of relegation-bound Barnet.

Brown made six changes to the side that lost at Newport last week.

Goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook returned from a wrist injury while Joe Romanski was handed his first-team debut in the centre of defence.

Ryan McGivern also came in for the suspended Rollin Menayese with Keshi Anderson, Amine Linganzi and Paul Mullin also starting.

Paul Mullin was the first to threaten for Swindon in the opening minute, but his effort was dragged well wide of James McKeown’s goal.

Brown, who switched his side’s formation to 3-5-2 with Knoyle and Taylor acting on both wings in midfield, had to instruct his side to deal with the long throw of Mitch Rose from an early stage.

Rose’s second throw-in resulted in Harry Clifton losing his marker before twisting and shooting from the penalty spot, but his effort went over Reice Charles-Cook’s crossbar. Build up play on both wings resulted in Swindon earning their first meaningful chance on goal after 10 minutes.

James Dunne received the ball from Knoyle before striker Marc Richards was picked out in space on the edge of the area.

But the in-form striker’s effort from outside the area was weak and comfortably gathered by McKeown.

Grimsby threatened moments later when Town had a handball call turned down before Reece Hall-Johnson ran with the ball on the right wing.

Though accurate, Hall-Johnson’s cross evaded everyone in Town’s penalty area as Charles-Cook allowed the ball to run out for a goal kick.

Matt Taylor’s accurate cross from the half-way line then found Marc Richards, whose timely header found Linganzi in space by the penalty spot.

But Linganzi’s effort was hit high over Grimsby’s crossbar.

The move seemingly inspired Town to apply more pressure to the visitors’ back four though as Paul Mullin forced McKeown into a diving save to his left following the forward’s effort from distance.

Town’s third effort in quick succession came when Kyle Knoyle’s cross found the head of a twisting Matt Taylor.

With little time to correct his body position, Taylor’s header went wide.

Grimsby recovered and soon created a chance of their own when Danny Collins’ header from a free kick almost found Harry Cardwell in front of Charles-Cook’s net.

Swindon were then let off when a dummy from a corner caught out the home side as Martyn Woolford was allowed a free effort from outside the area. But Woolford’s strike was met by cheers from the home crowd as his effort rose high over the Town End.

But the cheers soon turned to voices of frustration when Paul Mullin had a goal disallowed for handball after bundling past McKeown’s goalline.

Keshi Anderon’s bursting run through Grimsby’s defence allowed the attacking midfielder to deliver an accurate pass to Marc Richards.

Richards’ effort beat McKeown, but rattled off the crossbar as the visitors continued to keep a foothold in the game.

Grimsby managed to weather Town’s storm and soon found themselves creating chances of their own as Hall-Johnson again linked up with Cardwell, whose effort flashed wide of Charles Cook’s right post.

Swindon’s hard work was undone minutes before half time though as referee John Brooks awarded a controversial penalty.

Harry Cardwell escaped Ryan McGivern to make a bursting run towards the penalty area before falling in the penalty area after being tripped outside the box.

Mitch Rose calmly converted from 12-yards but was booked immediately after scoring following his celebration in front of the Town fans.

Marc Richards linked up with Paul Mullin at the start of the second half with the latter shooting from just outside the area. But Mullin’s strike was directed wide of McKeown’s right post.

Keshi Anderson forced McKeown into making a strong save to his right after Matt Taylor’s short free kick found Anderson in space on the edge of the 18-yard box. Joe Romanski’s follow up effort was blasted over the bar.

Phil Brown made his first tactical change 10 minutes into the second half as Ollie Banks and Donal McDermott replaced Paul Mullin and James Dunne.

J J Hooper almost doubled Grimsby’s lead immediately after Town’s double change though as his two efforts from inside the area cannoned off Town’s structured back three.

Danny Collins then rose to meet a corner as Grimsby their best five-minute spell of the game.

Scott Twine entered the field on 71 minutes, the Swindon-born teenager earning his third first-team appearance since making his first start for the senior team 11 days ago.

McDermott kept Town in the game with 18 minutes of play remaining when Nathan Clarke’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by the Irish midfielder. Grimsby appeared content with sitting back for the concluding 10 minutes of the game as Town were restricted to midfield play, to the frustration of the home crowd.

There was a moment of hope seconds before 90 minutes was up when Scott Twine’s effort from range flashed wide of McKeown’s top right corner.

Swindon: Reice Charles-Cook, Chris Hussey, Paul Mullin (Ollie Banks 55’), James Dunne (Donal McDermott 55’), Amine Linganzi, Marc Richards ©, Joe Romanski, Kyle Knoyle, Keshi Anderson (Scott Twine 71’), Matt Taylor, Ryan McGivern.

Grimsby: James McKeown, Nathan Clarke ©, Danny Collins, Mitch Rose, J J Hooper (Easah Sulliman 84’), Harry Clifton, Harry Cardwell (Jamille Matt 71’), Luke Summerfield, Andrew Fox, Martyn Woolford, Reece Hall-Johnson (Ben Davies 71’).