The visitors broke Grimsby’s six-game clean sheet run in League Two from the penalty spot in the 21st minute, with Callum Paterson converting from 12 yards after Sam Lavelle was deemed to have brought Aaron Collins down in the box.

There was a slice of fortune to MK Dons’ second goal in the 27th minute as Marvin Ekpiteta’s powerful but off-target effort smashed off an unaware Harvey Rodgers and in.

The hosts did have the ball in the back of the net five minutes later as Jaze Kabia headed in George McEachran’s cross, but the former was deemed offside.

Kabia was onside in the 63rd minute as McEachran found him again, this time with a grounded cross which went through a few bodies before the former tapped in at the back post.

The Grimsby forward then levelled the scores in the 72nd minute with a well-timed near-post run to meet a Reece Staunton corner with his head.