Mission Accomplished

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 18/01/2015

GRIMSBY repeated Lincoln's victory over one-time runaway leaders Barnet to make the title race no longer the certainty it looked a few weeks ago. Town and Bristol Rovers now have an outside chance of catching the Londoners, especially if Barnet keep dropping points.

We've seen during the last few years several times when a team has either come from nowhere to claim top stop, or surrendered a huge lead at the top in the final few weeks of the season. Barnet are now just five points clear of Bristol Rovers and there are still fifteen games of the season to go. Grimsby are a further seven points behind but they have two games on hand in the top two. The Mariners are still clear third favourites for the title, but still on target to at least emulate the fourth place finish that Town have achieved in the last two seasons.

Palmer started up front for Town, making his home debut in the league. The only change from the side which drew with Gateshead was the return of Jack Mackreth on the right wing.

Barnet took an en early lead when Toto Nsiala clipped Akinde's heels in the box for a clear penalty, which Akinde confidently stroked past McKeown.

Grimsby soon equalised when a Town attack was failed to be cleared by the Barnet defence and it bounced out to Palmer who drilled it cooly past the 'keeper into the top corner in a stunning finish.

Within a couple of minutes Town were ahead. John-Lewis was pushed down in the box and the leading scorer stepped up to put Town ahead from the spot.

Palmer almost added another but headed unchallenged straight at the 'keeper from a looping cross from the left wing. Akinde missed a similar headed chance for Barnet from the left, but that went wide.

The first half ended 2-1 to Grimsby. Both sides had dominant spells, with neither side carving out a huge amount of chances in a tense game, it was a surprise to see 3 goals in 45 minutes.

Barnet made a substitution at half time bringing on Marsh-Brown in place of Weston.

Town went 3-1 up in early in the first half. A cross by Magnay was flicked on by Palmer and Mackreth ghosted in at the far post to bundle the ball in.

Barnet brought on attacking substitutes and Grimsby had chances on the break, but couldn't add any more.

Town ran out easy winners in the end in a convincing victory which maintains their outside chance of catching the leaders. Man of the match was Palmer who stored a stunning goal, looked a perfect partner for John-Lewis and terrorised the Barnet defence.

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