Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale celebrated turning 44 by watching his team come away from Grimsby Town with all three points.
It also proved to be a double celebration as Reuben Reid opened the scoring for the Grecians with his 100th career goal in the 41st minute when he prodded home from six yards.
City doubled their lead on 59 minutes through David Wheeler before the highly rated Ollie Watkins added a third with ten minutes to go.
The result extends the Grecians' unbeaten run to eight games and leaves them four points off the Play-off zone.
