Five-star Grimsby Town produced an excellent performance to beat Barrow and make it back-to-back home wins at Blundell Park.
David Artell’s side followed up Tuesday’s last-gasp victory over Fleetwood Town with a confident and stylish display against the struggling Bluebirds to collect another three points and ensure they remain in the Sky Bet League Two play-off places.
The visitors started brightly but after Andy Cook opened the scoring on 17 minutes, the Mariners never looked back and Kieran Green’s first goal of the afternoon saw them go in 2-0 up at half-time.
Jaze Kabia added a third just after the hour, before Green struck for the second time with a header from a corner and Kabia rounded off the scoring to complete his own brace deep into stoppage time and seal a ruthless 5-0 win.
Town were unchanged after the single-goal midweek success against Fleetwood, so goalkeeper Jackson Smith again had a defence of Harvey Rodgers, Maldini Kacurri, Cameron McJannet and Reece Staunton in front of him. Geza Turi sat behind Darragh Burns, Green, Jamie Walker and Kabia in midfield, as Cook led the attack.
The bench was also unchanged, with Christy Pym, Tyrell Warren, Jayden Sweeney, Clarke Oduor, George McEachran, Justin Amaluzor and Jude Soonsup-Bell all listed as substitutes.
Barrow arrived in Cleethorpes on a seven-match winless run which had seen them drop to the bottom of the league table.
Interim player-head coach Sam Foley, who named himself among the substitutes, had lost one and drawn one of his two games since stepping into the role earlier in the month as the club’s fourth boss of the season.
He would look to former Mariners captain Danny Rose, making his first return to Blundell Park since leaving in January, to provide the main attacking threat as the Cumbrian side aimed for a win which could lift them out of the relegation zone if other results also went their way.
FIRST HALF
McJannet headed clear from a Joe Anderson cross before Smith was called into early action to make a block from Tom Barkhuizen following a loose pass by Kacurri. That gave Barrow the first corner but they were unable to make it count.
Walker needed treatment after a clash with Elliot Newby on the halfway line but was passed fit to play on, then Ben Jackson sent a shot just over the bar from the away right after intercepting a clearance from Staunton.
Barrow keeper Wyll Stanway came off his line to stop a ball into the box from Staunton after a Town free kick from the left as the Mariners threatened for the first time.
And although the visitors had started well, when the deadlock was broken on 17 minutes it was the Mariners who took the lead. Burns made space for a cross from the right and his chip fell perfectly for COOK to steer a header past Stanway in front of the Pontoon Stand.
Cook was caught offside after a run through the middle by Walker as the hosts immediately aimed to add to their lead, before Walker volleyed wide from 20 yards at the end of their next attack.
Green saw a shot blocked after a neat move from the left as Town continued to go through the gears, then a stoppage came for Newby to receive treatment following a strong but fair challenge by Kacurri near the away dugout.
The Mariners were firmly on top at the half-hour mark and Cook sent a low, first-time strike wide after a good touch by Green, although a foul by Kacurri gave Barrow an opportunity to create danger from a free kick inside the home half. Charlie McCann’s delivery bounced through to Smith.
Walker needed more attention after going down off the ball on 33 minutes and this time he was unable to continue, so McEachran was sent on in his place as the home side made the first substitution.
McCann saw a shot blocked after Rose had created an opening by dispossessing McJannet on the away right but seconds later Town went down the other end of the pitch and doubled their advantage. Kabia cut inside from the left and played the ball across the six-yard box for Green to flick past Stanway and make it 2-0.
Five added minutes were played at the end of the first half and with no further opportunities coming for either side, the Mariners went in with a two-goal lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
Connor Mahoney and Josh Gordon replaced Newby and Barkhuizen as the away side made a double substitution ahead of the restart and an early foul by McEachran gave them a free kick inside the Grimsby half. McCann sent it towards the far post from the right but the offside flag went up against Rose.
Stanway raced off his line to make a block from Burns after the winger ran onto McEachran’s through-ball and a stoppage followed for Kabia to receive treatment after being caught in an aerial challenge in the build-up.
Kacurri stopped Mahoney at the expense of a corner as Kabia rejoined the action but Turi headed the flag-kick clear and Smith dived to push Jackson’s follow-up attempt from distance away from goal.
Smith was called into action again seconds later as he dived to tip the ball away for another corner from Mahoney’s low 25-yard strike. This time Cook was the man to head clear from Mahoney’s delivery.
The Barrow pressure continued with a free kick from the left which was eventually cleared for a throw-in and another throw followed but when the ball was played into the box, Smith jumped to claim it.
Town had absorbed the early pressure well and when they created their first chance of the second half at the other end, the hosts added a third goal. Burns and McEachran linked up to create an opening for KABIA and he took a touch before slotting past Stanway to make it 3-0 with 61 minutes on the clock.
Amaluzor and Oduor replaced Burns and Turi after the goal and Kabia won a corner on the left from Town’s next attack. Staunton’s flag-kick picked Kabia out but this time he could only head over the bar.
A Barrow corner soon afterwards was headed clear by Green at the near post before Mahoney fired off-target from 25 yards.
The visitors then made a double change and Rose walked off the pitch to a standing ovation from all sides of the ground in appreciation of his efforts while wearing the colours of the Mariners. He was replaced by Tyler Walker, while Scott Smith came on for Jack Earing.
Oduor forced a corner on the left on 68 minutes but Staunton’s ball was scrambled clear before a further stoppage came for McJannet to receive treatment after a challenge with Gordon.
A foul on Kabia by Jackson brought a free kick on the left but it did not lead to a chance in front of goal, then Barrow boss Foley brought himself on for the last 14 minutes as Angus MacDonald made way.
Oduor sent a cross-shot out at the far post for a goal kick as Town kept going forward, before McEachran went down off the ball and was unable to continue. Sweeney replaced him, while Soonsup-Bell was sent on for Cook at the same time.
Amaluzor saw a shot blocked after Oduor had won the ball from Foley, before Jackson fired off-target from a corner at the other end as Barrow looked for a consolation goal.
Town were still looking for more though and the fourth goal duly arrived on 87 minutes. Staunton’s corner from the right was met by GREEN, who headed into the net for his second of the afternoon.
Smith showed good reactions to push a volley from Foley away and keep his clean sheet intact, then an away corner was dealt with as the game moved into 10 added minutes.
Kabia stung the palms of Stanway with a drive from 25 yards after a strong run by Soonsup-Bell.
Stanway carried the ball over the line for another corner with two added minutes to go but this time the danger from it was cleared.
But there was still time for a fifth goal, as Amaluzor showed determination to get to a low Rodgers cross ahead of Jackson and square for KABIA to apply the finishing touch and complete a superb afternoon’s work for the men in black and white.
With the scheduled trips to Cambridge United and Chesterfield postponed due to international call-ups, Town now have a break from action until April 3, when Harrogate Town will visit Blundell Park for a Good Friday clash.
