IT felt like confirmation of the inevitable – Swindon Town will not feature in the League Two play-offs.

That news follows Town’s seventh game without a win after Mitch Rose’s penalty shortly before half-time at the Energy Check County Ground on Saturday guided Grimsby Town to a one-goal win against Phil Brown’s men.

While Town could still mathematically make the play-offs immediately after the final whistle blew, Lincoln City’s Luke Waterfall would then go on to score in the fourth minute of injury time against Colchester United.

Waterfall’s strike earned Lincoln three points, and subsequently left Town seven points adrift of seventh-placed Coventry City with only two games remaining.

It’s a bitter blow for Swindon and Brown, who joined the club in mid-March following the departure of David Flitcroft to another play-off hopeful, Mansfield Town.

Brown was set the target of guiding Swindon into the top seven by the end of the season.

And with that goal now out of the question, his future at the club could hinge on the results of Town’s remaining two games at Colchester United next weekend and at home to Accrington Stanley a week later.

Both Swindon and Grimsby entered Saturday’s match with something to play for.

The hosts were chasing a play-off spot, while the Mariners remained embroiled in a desperate relegation fight with in-form Barnet.

While the visitors’ dreams edged closer to being realised, Town’s hopes were crushed.

Swindon Advertiser:
Both teams had plenty to play for at the Energy Check County Ground

But the game didn’t lack in controversy as referee John Brooks became the centre of attention at half-time after awarding Grimsby a penalty despite Harry Cardwell being fouled outside the area by centre half Ryan McGivern.

Brown made six changes to the side that lost at Newport County a week earlier.

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

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

Swindon Advertiser:
Joe Romanski was handed a senior debut for Swindon Town

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 Kyle Knoyle and Matt Taylor acting on both wings in midfield, had to instruct his side to deal with the long throw of 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 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.

Taylor’s accurate cross from the halfway line then found Richards, whose timely header found Linganzi in space by the penalty spot.

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

Swindon Advertiser:
Amine Linganzi tries his luck for the hosts

The move seemingly inspired Town to apply more pressure to the visitors’ back four, though, as 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 Knoyle’s cross found the head of a twisting 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 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 Mullin had a goal disallowed for handball after bundling past McKeown’s goalline.

Swindon Advertiser:
Paul Mullin though he has given Swindon the lead - but the goal was ruled out for handball

Anderson’s bursting run through Grimsby’s defence allowed the attacking midfielder to deliver an accurate pass to 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 Brooks awarded a controversial penalty.

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

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

Swindon Advertiser:
Mitch Rose celebrates the winning goal for Grimsby in front of the Swindon supporters

Richards linked up with 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.

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

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

Collins then rose to meet a corner as Grimsby enjoyed 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, as he took the place of Anderson.

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, as Town were restricted to midfield play, to the frustration of the home crowd.

Swindon Advertiser:
Marc Richards is beaten in the air by Grimsby defender Danny Collins

There was a moment of hope seconds before 90 minutes was up when Twine’s effort from range flashed wide of McKeown’s top right corner, but it was to no avail and Swindon’s fate was sealed when the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.

The result leaves the Town players with little more than contracts to fight for as the club and fans await another season of fourth tier football.