A disappointing performance by Barnet saw Grimsby Town maintain their charge for promotion in Coca-Cola League Two but defeat for the Bees left them looking nervously over their shoulders at the wrong end of the table.
In a disastrous six minute spell before half time two strikes by Garry Jones and another by Paul Bolland saw the Marriners seal the three points in the first 45 minutes.
The home side started the game brightly and Jones sliced an effort wide in the first five minutes when well placed.
 Sinclair: shot wide early on |
Barnet, who were missing ankle injury victim Tresor Kandol in attack, had their best chance of the game in the 13th minute when Dean Sinclair saw his 25 yard strike flash just wide of Steve Mildenhall's right hand post.
Although the home side were playing the better football, their was little to chose between the two sides early on, although the Marriner's were creating more in front of goal.
Paul Bolland's low cross in the 20th minute found Jones but his strike was well held by Reed whilst four minutes later Bolland himself saw his effort go wide of the Barnet goalkeeper's goal.In fact, it was the Bolland-Jones show for Grimsby and in the 27th minute the two players combined once more with the latter seeing his effort at the far post pushed away by Reed for the corner.
From the resulting set-piece Ben Futcher rose well at the far post but he failed to direct his headed effort on target and the ball sailed harmlessly into the stand behind the goal.
Barnet, to their credit, were looking to pass the ball around but strike duo Jason Norville and Giuliano Grazioli were finding it hard to get into the game with the home side looking to press the Bees at every opportunity.
The hard work paid off for the Marriners and they took the lead in the 38th minute courtesy of that man Jones.
Dean Sinclair lost possession on the Bees left and the ball fell to the feet of Curtis Woddhouse. The former Peterborough United midfielder saw his weak 25 yard strike controlled on the penalty spot by Jones and he turned and shot in the bottom right hand corner to give the home side the lead.
Two minutes later and the same player was to get his and Grimsby's second goal of the game when a long free kick into the box by Milderhall was flicked on by Futcher and Jones was there to finish past Reed from six yards.
A minute later and it could easily have been three for the Marriners' but Gary Cohen could only direct his header, from an inswinging Woodhouse free kick, into the hands of Reed.
Grimsby, though, only had to wait one more minute and they were to score their third and the influential Bolland was to mark his dominant start to the game with a goal.
A long ball by Ciaran Toner saw the impressive Bolland beat the Bees offside trap before curling the ball past Reed in the Barnet goal.
It could have been worse for the Bees before the interval but from close range Futcher could only direct his header over the bar when well placed.
The second half saw the home side content to play on the break and despite Barnet's best efforts they failed to reduce the scoreline in a quieter second period.
 Norville: free kick hit the bar |
It could all have been so different though had Jason Norville's 54th minute free kick gone in but the ball clipped the crossbar and went over.
Jones (57) had another effort saved by Reed from distance as the striker looked to claim his hat-trick, whilst Toner saw his curled effort go wide just three minutes later.
For Barnet, the introduction of Damian Batt, Liam Hatch and Louis Soares for Norville, Grazioli and Simon Clist, failed to produce any further impotus for the Bees' and Paul Fairclough's side left Blundell Park with a disappointing 3-0 defeat and lots to think about ahead of next Saturday's visit to Peterborough United.
Away attendance: 163
Jonathan Sugar
