Milton Keynes Dons were beaten at home by Grimsby Town in a wonderfully entertaining game at The Ground.

Danny Boshell's superb first-half volley and James' Hunt's deflected shot eight minutes after half-time put the Dons on the rack and despite a well-taken goal from Keith Andrews, the Dons were unable to recover.

Martin Allen was able to welcome back Lloyd Dyer to his starting eleven after the winger passed a late fitness test on a groin strain. Izale McLeod, Clive Platt and Andrews all shook off minor knocks to take their places in the side.

Defender Nick Fenton was declared fit for the visitors, who also handed a 750th career appearance to 38-year-old full-back John McDermott.

On a pitch that was watered before the game, the Dons started at an incredible tempo, popping the ball around against a side known to favour a passing game themselves. Bright as a button from the off, McLeod was first to eye the target with an improvised shot on the turn from Dean Lewington's left-wing cross.

Spurred by his early involvement, McLeod was right on his game and after drifting out to his regular, menacing position on the left flank, the Dons nearly took the lead. The frontman's clever turn and cross was not cleanly caught by Mariners 'keeper Phil Barnes, but as Platt slid home the loose ball referee Andre Marriner blew for a foul.

Grimsby were struggling to find their usual passing game as the Dons cranked up the pressure and when Andrews' long ball found an on-rushing McLeod, they had Barnes to thank as he beat away McLeod's fierce, angled drive.

Gareth Edds and Andrews both went close with long-range volleys before Grimsby, out of nowhere, spectacularly took the lead. Tom Newey's cross from the left went deeper than anyone had expected and as Boshell waited, his wide position meant only a world-class finish would trouble Lee Harper. Boshell came up with the goods as he crashed a stunning, angled, right-foot drive into the far corner from 14 yards.

With the Dons enjoying such dominance you would never have credited it, but after Sean O'Hanlon headed set pieces from Lewington and Jon-Paul McGovern over the bar, the Dons went in trailing at the break.

For the second half, Allen made his intentions clear from the outset, introducing Leon Knight and Jude Stirling for Dominic Blizzard and McGovern as the Dons went for the jugular.

But it was Grimsby to hit the seemingly-killer blow on 53 minutes when Ciaran Toner's corner was only partially cleared and Hunt was unmarked on the edge of the box to smash through the crowd and into the net.

It gave the Dons a mountain to climb and the manager introduced Albert Jarrett to help them overcome it.

But in the hands of Stirling, they retained a potent attacking weapon and when his long throw was not cleared properly, Knight kept it in the mix and Andrews rifled a right foot shot into the top corner from 10 yards.

Game-on and as Allen and his assistant Adrian Whitbread tried to fire-up the crowd, the team tried to claw their way back into the game. First Knight took advantage of another Stirling throw but shot just over on the spin before McLeod hammered a shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

The game was wide open and Grimsby substitute Peter Till nearly restored the advantage when he raced away down the right, only for his shot from the edge of the box to cannon back off the upright.

The pace was unbelieveable and as Harper's booming clearance sent the Dons on the attack again, Gareth Edds jabbed a pass the way of McLeod after dogged determination from Knight to keep the ball alive. Again the Cowshed held its breath, but this time its top-scorer couldn't deliver as his shot flew over.

Allen's side continued to pepper the Mariners penalty area but try as they might, the equaliser was not forthcoming.