The Mariners got back to winning ways on home turf in style with a 5-2 demolition of Accrington Stanley.

Town hit four goals in a magnificent first-half display to seal the points and added another after the break to bring a run of four Sky Bet League Two defeats in a row at Blundell Park to an end in emphatic fashion.

Harvey Rodgers gave the hosts a perfect start to the game as he opened the scoring on two minutes and Jayden Luker put them in control when he struck to make it 2-0, still with only 11 minutes on the clock.

The early goals kept coming as Justin Obikwu added a third, before Jordan Davies got Town’s fourth from the penalty spot after a foul on the impressive Jason Svanthorsson.

Stanley pulled one back through Alex Henderson just after the hour following a brief spell of pressure but a Sonny Aljofree own-goal restored the home side’s four-goal cushion.

Josh Woods made it 5-2 on 80 minutes but his goal proved to be no more than a consolation for the away side as Town closed out an excellent victory.

Six changes were made to the Grimsby team following the home loss to Colchester United last time out, with Lewis Cass, George McEachran, Kieran Green, Davies, Svanthorsson and Obikwu all coming into the XI. Tyrell Warren, Callum Ainley, Curtis Thompson, Evan Khouri, Danny Rose and Luca Barrington were the ones to make way.

Jordan Wright started in goal, with Cass, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume forming the defence. McEachran, Green and Davies made up a new-look midfield, while Svanthorsson and Luker lined up either side of striker Obikwu.

Thompson, Ainley, Khouri, Rose and Barrington were all named on the bench, along with Seb Auton and Doug Tharme.

Accrington arrived in Cleethorpes fresh from a penalty shoot-out victory over Swindon Town in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, a result which earned them a third-round trip to Liverpool.

Manager John Doolan made three alterations for the return to league action, with Farrend Rawson, Henderson and Jimmy Knowles all coming into the Stanley team.

Town created the first chance of the game inside the opening minute, as Obikwu’s intelligent flicked header sent Luker clear through the middle, although his strike was blocked for a corner by goalkeeper Billy Crellin.

From the flag, the Mariners took the lead, as Hume’s right-wing delivery broke for RODGERS and he hit a low, first-time shot on the turn which found the far corner of he net.

A corner at the other end was cleared as the visitors looked for an instant response, before Rawson sent a Hume cross out for a throw in at the end of a neat move by the home side down the right.

The Mariners had made a superb start to the contest and they doubled their advantage on 10 minutes. Hume set off on a run down the left before playing a brilliant cross-field ball for LUKER, who cut inside and beat Crellin from 18 yards.

Ben Woods fired wide after an Accrington corner was played short, then Hume won a corner at the other end when his cross bounced off midfielder Liam Coyle. The flag-kick was not fully dealt with and McEachran eventually drilled a low strike just wide from 30 yards.

Town did not have to wait much longer to make it 3-0 though, as an attempted back-pass from Knowles went straight into the path of OBIKWU and he took the ball into the box before keeping his composure to slot past Crellin.

Knowles fired wide of the far post as he aimed to make up for his error, then a stoppage came when Davies needed treatment after going down with an injury but the Wrexham loanee was passed fit to play on.

Town continued to play some great football and they had an opportunity to make it 4-0 on 28 minutes, when Svanthorsson picked up a loose ball and beat two defenders to run clear from the left. He looked up and found Green inside the penalty area, although Ben Woods made a good block to deny the midfielder.

Nelson Khumbeni was shown the first yellow card of the game on the half-hour for pulling Hume back near the halfway line.

Soon afterwards, the Mariners had their chance to register a fourth goal when Svanthorsson set off on another run from the left and after making his way into the box, he was brought down by Coyle. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Davies stepped up to confidently beat Crellin from 12 yards.

Seamus Conneely and Connor O’Brien came on for Coyle and Khumbeni as Accrington made a double-substitution in a bid to change their fortunes. And they had a free kick in a dangerous position soon afterwards, although Ben Woods’ strike from it was blocked and O’Brien could only fire high into the Pontoon Stand.

Donald Love became the next to see the referee’s yellow card after a poor challenge on Svanthorsson, before Grimsby keeper Wright was called into action for the first time to push a Ben Woods cross-shot away for a corner. The yellow card was brandished again before it was taken, as Aljofree became the third Stanley player to be booked.

Three added minutes were played at the end of the first half and after Rawson made a brave block from Luker, the Mariners went in at the break with a commanding, four-goal lead.

SECOND HALF

Rose replaced Obikwu for Town before the restart and an early shot by Accrington’s Josh Woods was blocked by McEachran at the edge of the box.

Rose almost pounced on a short back-pass from Rawson at the other end but Crellin managed to get the ball away, then Hume lifted a shot over the bar after a slick attacking move from the hosts.

Tharme came on for Rodgers in Grimsby’s second change on 53 minutes, before a low shot from Henderson rolled harmlessly wide as the visitors looked for a consolation goal.
Love sent a free kick high over Wright’s bar after a foul by Green but Accrington’s next chance finally got them on the scoresheet, as Henderson’s half-volley from 20 yards flew past the keeper.

Ash Hunter replaced Knowles for the visitors after the goal and Town responded with more changes of their own, as Ainley and Thompson came on in place of Green and Davies.

The away side had improved since the interval but the Mariners restored their four-goal advantage on 69 minutes. Luker made progress down the right before passing to Rose, whose dangerous low ball across the six-yard line was slid into his own goal by Aljofree as Svanthorsson looked for a tap-in at the far post.

Khouri replaced Hume at left-back in Town’s final change and Wright made a fantastic save on 77 minutes to tip Zach Awe’s header from a free kick on the right over his bar for a corner.

Two minutes later though, Accrington were back within three goals, as uncertainty between the defence and goalkeeper let in Josh Woods and he made no mistake to slot past Wright.

Two further changes for the visitors saw Anjola Popoola and Lewis Trickett come on for Love and Josh Woods.

Town were still looking for more goals and Rose was stopped by a good block from Rawson, before Hunter became the latest to be booked after bringing McEachran down near the dug-outs.

Three added minutes were played at the end of the game and O’Brien was booked after a foul on Svanthorsson but after the resulting free kick was dealt with, it proved to be the last action of a great evening for the Mariners.

Town are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Morecambe.

Town: Wright, Cass, Rodgers (Tharme, 53), McJannet, Hume (Khouri, 70), McEachran, Green (Ainley, 65), Davies (Thompson, 65), Svanthorsson, Obikwu (Rose, 46), Luker

Subs not used: Auton, Barrington

Attendance, brought to you by Elegant Beds: 3,874