TWO Danny North goals and a second half strike by Andy Taylor gave Grimsby Town a brilliant and much needed away victory at Barnet.
The Mariners preserved their record of beating the North Londoners in every meeting of the clubs without conceding a single goal and in doing so, kept their second consecutive clean sheet.
Town took the lead through North on 11 minutes as he prodded home after Nick Fenton headed on a Ciaran Toner corner.
Then after sustained home pressure, the Mariners grew in confidence and extended their lead just before half time when North scored again after a solo run.
Barnet looked to get something out of the game after the break and they piled forward, trying to preserve an impressive home record of only losing once at home this season.
But some inspired defending, particularly from the outstanding Ryan Bennett, coupled with Taylor's 89th minute goal, gave Grimsby a priceless three points.
Both new loan signings came in for their Town debuts, with Robert Atkinson and Sam Hird both starting in defence.
Gary Montgomery continued in goal as regular stopper Phil Barnes was still ill, while Bennett, Atkinson, Nick Fenton and Hird made up the back four.
Tom Newey switched to a left wing role, while Toner moved into the centre of a four-man midfield alongside James Hunt. Peter Till started on the right.
Gary Jones and North started together in attack after impressing in Tuesday's FA Cup victory over Carlisle United, and Isaiah Rankin made a return to the bench after sitting the last few weeks out with a stomach strain.
He was joined by Nick Hegarty, Andy Taylor, Peter Bore and Jamie Clarke.
Winger Jason Puncheon would be one to watch in the hosts' line-up.He was looking to add to his seven goals so far this season, while Sagi Burton has been a big factor in Barnet keeping the goals out at the other end.
Town went into the game having taken just one point from a possible 24 in their last eight games.The Mariners would have been desperate to record their third win of the season and in the process, create some breathing space above the League Two relegation zone.
Barnet had also been on a poor run of late, taking two points from their last four games.But a great start to the season meant that Paul Fairclough's side still sat three points off the play-offs at kick-off.
Grimsby took a 100 per cent record against the North Londoners into this match, having won all four of their previous encounters in the league.
Town kicked off playing down the famous Underhill slope but it was Barnet who made the better start, and they almost had a chance to take the lead after a mistake by Atkinson in the opening minutes of the contest.
Town's first shot came courtesy of North after he had been played in by Jones.It was deflected for a corner by Ismail Yakubu.
And from that corner, the Mariners took an eleventh minute lead.Nick Fenton got his head to Toner's ball into the box and NORTH was there to prod it right-footed past Lee Harrison from close range.
Montgomery then had to be at his best a minute later to keep his side ahead.Yakubu got a firm head to a Puncheon corner from the right and the Grimsby keeper had to dive to his right to keep the effort out, instead pushing it away for a corner.
And it was Montgomery again who denied Adam Birchall on 18 minutes, pushing his shot away for another home corner.
The hosts were pushing for an equaliser, dominating possession and creating plenty of chances.But on each occasion, they were thwarted by Montgomery, who was looking to keep his second clean sheet in as many games.
Barnet won a free kick on the halfway line after a foul by Hird on 20 minutes.The loanee defender was spoken to by referee Andy Penn but the home side couldn't create anything from the set piece.
Town could have stretched their lead three minutes later when Toner played a ball through for North.The young striker beat the offside trap but saw the ball run away from him down the Underhill slope for Harrison to come off his line and gather comfortably.
Jones became the first player of the afternoon to be booked on the half-hour.He was shown the yellow card for kicking the ball away after the referee's whistle had blown for a free kick the other way as the big striker was caught offside.
Bennett had to clear with his head on 33 minutes as Liam Hatch waited to convert a cross at the far post.The youngster was alert to the danger though and he put the ball out for a corner.
Bennett's display had been one of the highlights of the first half for Grimsby, who had stood up well to the home pressure since North's opening goal.
Town won a corner seven minutes before the break but Yakubu got the ball away.Then Barnet broke quickly and their attack resulted in Puncheon chipping just wide of Montgomery's far post after the ball had sailed over the Grimsby stopper.
Although the hosts had enjoyed most of the play, it was the Mariners who doubled their advantage a minute before half time.
NORTH did well to win a challenge on the halfway line and his pace carried him past two Barnet defenders as he raced clear with only Harrison to beat.
He clipped the ball over the home keeper and watched it trickle over the line, beating the despairing attempted clearance of Burton to give the Grimsby striker his second goal of the afternoon.
Two minutes of added time were played before Mr Penn brought an end to a very profitable first 45 minutes for Town.
North's double had put the Mariners into a very strong position going into the interval and Alan Buckley would surely have been pleased with the striker's clinical finishing after he had struggled to convert chances in previous games.
The defensive display had also been encouraging, with Bennett and Fenton working well together and Montgomery again in fine form between the sticks.
Both sides made a change ahead of the restart, with Peter Bore replacing Peter Till for the Mariners and Joe O'Cearuill replacing Ismail Yakubu for the hosts.
Town made a nervous start to the second period, with Atkinson hesitating as a Barnet attacker looked to capitalise. Montgomery was there to dive on the ball and keep the two-goal lead intact.
Then Newey gave the ball away to Hatch after he had been presented with it by Joe Devera.
Hatch had the chance to halve the deficit after Birchall beat Hird on the right and crossed.But the striker's header was off-target.
Paul Fairclough made his second substitution soon afterwards, sending on Ashley Carew in place of Michael Leary on 51 minutes.
Puncheon was booked for a challenge on James Hunt inside the Mariners half and from the free kick, good link-up play between North and Newey eventually led to a cross from the left.
Then a Town corner taken by Toner eluded Fenton at the far post, clearing everybody and running out of play.
The Mariners were gaining in confidence and another promising move between North and Bore on 61 minutes led to the winger shooting from 20 yards.
Unfortunately for Town though, the attempt lacked power and direction and so caused no problems for the home defence.
Another excellent passage of play from the Mariners led to North being given offside after Bore and Jones had been involved in the build-up.
It proved to be the last chance for the striker to repeat last season's hat-trick against today's opponents as he was replaced by Andy Taylor straight afterwards.
Almost immediately, the substitute had a chance when a through ball was missed by Neil Bishop.But Taylor couldn't control the ball and the gap remained at two goals.
Barnet won a free kick at the other end for a foul by Hird and Jones had to get back and defend well, eventually winning a free kick on the edge of his own box.
Paul Fairclough's response was to make his final swap of the afternoon, introducing Nicky Nicolau to the action in place of Joe Devera with 20 minutes still to play.
Town had a shout for a penalty when Taylor moved into the box before his attempted shot hit a home defender on the arm.But the appeals were waved away by referee Penn, who instead pointed for a corner.
Taylor had another chance on 76 minutes when he shot just wide after Jones had done enough to get the ball through to him inside the box.
Then at the other end, Montgomery made a save from Bishop's shot as Barnet began to make an impression on the game with a period of sustained pressure on the Mariners backline.
Hatch volleyed just over soon afterwards after Bennett made a rare mistake as the hosts searched for a way back into the game.
Town were still looking to put the match beyond doubt with a third goal and they almost had it when Bore unselfishly put the ball across goal for Hunt.But the midfielder's attempt was narrowly off-target.
In what was becoming an all-action, end-to-end last quarter of the game, it was the hosts' turn to attack next, winning a corner that was headed away by Bennett.
And the impressive youngster was called into action again twice within the next minute, clearing crosses from Puncheon with his head.
Barnet kept piling on the pressure but the Mariners rearguard was equal to everything that was being thrown at it.
And when Taylor was given another chance at the other end, this time he took it and made the game safe.
The striker raced into the box but attempted to play Toner in instead of shooting.The Northern Irishman managed to touch the ball back to TAYLOR, who lashed it home from six yards.
Three minutes of added time were signalled as Town made their final substitution, giving Isaiah Rankin a comeback from injury for the final moments in place of Taylor.
Hatch had a chance for Barnet as he tried to hook the ball over Montgomery.But his effort rolled out for a goal kick, denying the hosts a consolation and giving Town only their third win of the season.
The Mariners deserved their victory and after a first league win in nine attempts, they can now look forward to next week's FA Cup trip to Huddersfield.
Barnet: Harrison, Devera, Burton, Yakubu, Gillet, Leary, Bishop, Wright, Puncheon, Hatch, Birchall. Subs: Beckwith, Nicolau, Carew, Grazioli, O'Cearuill.
Town: Montgomery, Atkinson, Bennett, Fenton, Newey, Till, Hird, Hunt, Toner, North, Jones. Subs: Rankin, Hegarty, Taylor, Bore, Clarke.
