The Mariners fell to an away defeat as they were beaten 3-0 by Barrow.

FIRST HALF

Town controlled possession for much of the first half in Cumbria but the hosts took the lead five minutes before the break when Robbie Gotts opened the scoring.

Jordan Wright made a brilliant penalty save from Aaron Pressley six minutes after the restart to keep Grimsby’s deficit at one goal.

But Tyler Smith struck soon afterwards to double the home side’s advantage and a late header from Theo Vassell ensured new Barrow head coach Andy Whing’s first game in charge ended with a win.

Kieran Green replaced Jordan Davies in the only change to the Town team following last week’s home draw with Chesterfield.

Wright started in goal, with Lewis Cass, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume forming the defence. George McEachran, Green and Evan Khouri were the midfielders, while Jayden Luker and Jason Svanthorsson began either side of striker Justin Obikwu.

Matty Carson, Curtis Thompson, Charles Vernam, Callum Ainley, Doug Tharme, Danny Rose and Seb Auton were all named as substitutes.

Barrow were hoping for a change in their fortunes after going five Sky Bet League Two games without a win, with Whing moving from Solihull Moors earlier in the week to replace Stephen Clemence in the Bluebirds’ dug-out.

He would be looking to the likes of Pressley and Smith to fire the home side to what would be only a second victory in 16 matches.

Leo Duru won the first corner of the game for Barrow inside two minutes but the referee spotted a foul by Vassell as Luker hooked the ball clear from it.

Green did well to win the ball in a challenge with Niall Canavan inside the Barrow penalty area after Luker played it forward in Town’s first attack. The midfielder cut inside to earn a corner when his shot was blocked by Vassell, although the Mariners could not create another chance from the flag-kick.

Luker had started well and he almost found Khouri with a low ball into the box but home goalkeeper Paul Farman was alert to the danger and came off his line to gather it.

Barrow’s Ben Jackson sent a low effort through to Wright from 25 yards, then Green fired wide from distance at the other end on 12 minutes.

Obikwu won a corner as Town’s promising opening to the contest continued but the referee spotted an infringement as Hume sent the ball over from the left and blew for a home free kick.

The visitors’ next opening came after McJannet picked Svanthorsson out with a long pass down the left. He then linked up with Hume before working his way into the box and hitting a low shot which was saved by Farman.

Luker saw a shot blocked for a corner after a Hume free kick from the left broke for him, then Rodgers did well to get to an MJ Williams through-ball ahead of Smith at the other end.

Town were on top at the half-hour mark, controlling possession and ensuring Wright was having little to do in goal, although they were finding it difficult to break through an organised Barrow defence.

But when the deadlock was broken five minutes before the break, it was Barrow who took the lead. After a run from Blackburn Rovers loanee Duru, Kian Spence found GOTTS, who took a touch to to get away from Cass and create the space to fire past Wright into the far corner of the net.

A Gotts free kick from near the halfway line led to a home corner after Rodgers headed the ball on and Wright tipped it over the bar. Wright got a glove to the ball from the flag and Luker completed the clearance.
Two added minutes were played at the end of the half and with no further chances coming for either side, Barrow’s advantage remained intact at the interval.

SECOND HALF

No changes were made before the restart and the home side had the first chance of the second half after Svanthorsson was dispossessed by Duru. He took the ball forward to the edge of the box before sliding it through for Smith, whose shot from a narrow angle was blocked by Wright.

Town were forced into making the first substitution on 50 minutes after Hume went down again and this time, was unable to continue. Carson came on in his place.

And soon afterwards, the hosts had an opportunity to make it 2-0 when Carson brought Spence down inside the box and the referee pointed for a penalty. They were unable to take the chance though, as Pressley’s spot-kick was superbly kept out by Wright, diving full-length to his right to tip the low strike away.

Town’s luck was not to last much longer, however, as Barrow instead doubled their lead on 56 minutes. Green saw the yellow card following an altercation on the home left and the resulting free kick was headed on inside the box for Smith, who turned and finished from eight yards.

Farman saved from Luker after the Mariners’ response saw them win a corner on the left but the home side were now in control and Duru won a corner on their right on the hour. Jackson’s delivery beat everybody and dropped out for a goal kick.

Rose, Thompson and Vernam were all sent on in a bid to change the game in Town’s favour, with Luker, Svanthorsson and McEachran making way.

Barrow then responded with a change of their own on 65 minutes, as Emile Acquah replaced Pressley in attack.

Rose saw an acrobatic volley go back across goal after meeting Vernam’s chipped cross from the right at the far post. Green got to the loose ball first and claimed a corner, although the referee instead ruled the midfielder had committed a foul.

Town were starting to increase the pressure as they looked for a way back into the game and after a deflected strike by Khouri brought a corner, it led to another one. The away side kept possession and an attempt from Vernam was blocked, then Green sent a shot wide from inside the box.

Defensive midfielder Dean Campbell replaced striker Smith for Barrow on 83 minutes and they went on to grab a third goal soon afterwards, when VASSELL met a Jackson corner to head home at the far post.

Town were looking for a consolation goal as the game moved into at least five added minutes and they almost had it when Carson pulled the ball back from the left, only for Khouri’s shot to hit Rose on the line before Barrow cleared for a corner.

That proved to be their final opportunity to get on the scoresheet, as the hosts saw out the remaining time to collect the points.

The Mariners are next in action on Tuesday, when they host Gillingham at Blundell Park.

Town: Wright, Cass, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume (Carson, 50), McEachran (Thompson, 61), Green, Khouri, Luker (Rose, 61), Obikwu, Svanthorsson (Vernam, 61)
Subs not used: Ainley, Tharme, Auton