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Grimsby had seemed to be coasting to their first win in seven matches and the completion of a double over Notts when the hosts midfielder Stephan Oaks entered the scene and completely changed the outcome.
Oakes has been scoring some sensational long distance goals for Notts County but all of them in away matches until he treated the fans to a pair in the closing stages.
Both came from free kicks, the first on 77 minutes from 35 yards with a shot that flew inside the left hand post of Grimsby goalkeeper Anthony Williams.
The Mariners were inviting trouble when they conceded another free-kick, this time 20 yards out inside the final five minutes. Oakes again didn't disappoint as he lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Notts awoke from a long slumber which afflicted them earlier in the contest and led to Grimsby being the better side without being anything out the ordinary themselves.
The visitors early danger man was striker Parkinson who would have scored on 14 minutes but for a brave dive at his feet but Notts goalkeeper Saul Deeney.
However, Deeney had no chance when Martin Gritton was again the playmaker setting up Parkinson at the back post where he scored with a rasping low drive from six yards on 28 minutes.
The second goal was a defensive mix up. Two defenders failed to clear their lines and Jason Crowe nipped between them to score the simplest of goals.
Though Mark Stallard saw a header bounce of the bar a few minutes later there was nothing in Notts play to suggest they could pull the game round - until that is, Oakes stepped in.