GRIMSBY Town swept Barnet aside to register a comfortable 4-1 victory at Blundell Park.
After a slow start, the Mariners never looked to be in any trouble after Nick Hegarty gave them a 28th minute lead.
Martin Butler capped an impressive performance by making it 2-0 on the stroke of half time before Paul Bolland added a third after the break.
Paul Fairclough's Barnet pulled one back through Cliff Akurang as they scored against Grimsby for the first time in six meetings between the two clubs, but substitute Andy Taylor restored the three-goal lead and sealed a fine victory.
Town have won every one of their matches against the North Londoners and the three points from this victory may prove to be invaluable with difficult games to come over the next few weeks.
Three changes were made to the Mariners side that lost 1-0 to Milton Keynes Dons on Friday.
Danny North missed out through injury and James Hunt was rested, although there was a place on the bench for Peter Till after fears he might also have to sit the game out.
Peter Bore was the other alteration from Friday's defeat and he dropped to the bench.
Ryan Bennett came back into the starting XI in place of Hunt in a move that saw Jamie Clarke playing in a central midfield position and Bennett lining up at right-back.
North and Bore were replaced by Gary Jones and Butler after the experienced front pairing impressed in the second half against Paul Ince's Dons.
Phil Barnes started in goal and Bennett, Rob Atkinson, Nick Fenton, Tom Newey and Hegarty comprised the defence.
Clarke was joined in midfield by Bolland and Danny Boshell, while Jones and Butler spearheaded the Town attack.
The Grimsby substitutes were Bore, Till, Gary Montgomery, Andy Taylor and Justin Whittle.
Barnet were without top scorer Jason Puncheon as he served a suspension after he was sent off against Peterborough last week.
Instead, the Bees would be looking to the likes of former Stevenage Borough striker Giuliano Grazioli for what would be their first ever goals against the Mariners.
Alan Buckley's side started the game with a perfect record against their North London opponents, having registered five wins in the five previous meetings between the two clubs.
As well as protecting that record, Town would also be looking to end a run of two consecutive home defeats after MK Dons and Dagenham both took maximum points hauls home from their trips to Cleethorpes.
Barnet had the first opportunity of the evening when Neal Bishop hit a snap-shot from 20 yards.It was straight at Barnes, who caught the ball comfortably.
Apart from that early half-chance, the first part of the half passed with very little of the match being played in attacking areas.Both sides seemed to be content to keep the ball in midfield, with neither goalkeeper being troubled.
The visitors had the next chance when a low cross from Clif Akurang was misjudged by Fenton, allowing Grazioli the chance to shoot from the edge of the box.Barnes had to dive to make a save, although the attempt never looked like it could be dangerous.
Grimsby's first opening came in the 12th minute.Atkinson's long throw was headed on by Jones and Hegarty was there to hit a snap-shot from 12 yards and force a good save from Barnet keeper Lee Harrison.
That proved to be the start of a spell of Grimsby pressure as they went on to win three corners in quick succession.
The first two deliveries from Boshell were good and caused problems among the away defenders after Fenton won the initial header on both occasions.The third flag-kick, from the opposite side of the pitch, was not as effective and the ball was cleared.
Clarke made a run from inside his own half on 16 minutes and played a one-two with Butler before advancing into the area before losing the ball in a challenge as he appeared to lose his balance.
The game was still being played at a fairly slow pace, with little action in front of either goal.Akurang's shot on 21 minutes went straight at Barnes before Grazioli fired wide following a free kick from the left.
Jones was brought down 30 yards from goal two minutes later but the Mariners couldn't make the free kick count.Clarke chipped the ball across the box towards the head of Bolland but he lost his footing and slipped at the crucial moment.
The next chance went the way of the Mariners and this time they made no mistake.Butler, whose hold-up play had been impressive throughout, played a one-two with HEGARTY and the wide-man confidently slammed the ball past Harrison with 28 minutes gone.
Just after the half-hour, Barnet were awarded a free kick inside the Grimsby half.On-loan winger Josh Wright chipped it to the edge of the box but Fenton was able to head away from danger.
The away side won their first corner on 34 minutes and Barnes was able to claim Wright's delivery before throwing the ball to Hegarty on the left.
The Mariners were given a free kick on the right side of the Barnet penalty area three minutes later.Newey hit a low shot to the near post but he couldn't summon enough power to beat Harrison.
Grimsby doubled their lead two minutes before the break when the Barnet defence allowed a long throw to bounce across their penalty area.BUTLER was there at the far post to turn and smash the ball into the net from six yards.
One minute of added time was signalled as Barnet won their second corner of the game.Wright's low ball was diverted over for another corner and this time Bennett headed clear.
Referee Mr Bratt then blew his whistle to end a half that had started slowly and continued to be played at a low tempo.The Mariners had dominated the opening 45 minutes and deserved their two-goal lead, whereas Barnet had done very little to suggest they could find a way back into the game after the restart.
Town had the first opportunity of the second half when Butler was fouled on the right by Sagi Burton.Newey's free kick was whipped in towards the near post but it was cleared by the visitors.
Grimsby made the game safe on 56 minutes, when they grabbed a third goal.
BOLLAND won a challenge 45 yards from goal and ran through with only Harrison to beat.He advanced into the area and produced a composed, clinical side-footed finish into the bottom corner in front of an empty Osmond Stand.
The visitors could have got one back three minutes later when Albert Adonah ran through into the Mariners penalty area but the midfielder's shot was weak from 10 yards and Barnes gathered easily.
Adonah's next effort was better but the result was no more effective as this time, his 25-yard shot flew just over the bar.
Soon afterwards, Butler nearly made it 4-0 when he was set free inside the area.Harrison got down well and made a good stop, parrying the ball before gathering it at the second attempt.
Boshell was the recipient of the first yellow card of the evening on 63 minutes.The midfielder had no arguments as he picked up his fourth caution of the season for a foul on Joe Devera on the halfway line.
Jones and Butler combined well two minutes later, with Butler's header finding his strike partner, who was able to run into the box before misjudging his shot and firing wide.
Barnet boss Paul Fairclough made the first substitution of the night, sending on Danny Hart in place of Kieron St Aimee.
The Bees won a corner soon afterwards when Bennett had to touch the ball out of play on the left.Barnes was forced to make his first meaningful save of the evening as the ball was diverted towards goal but the stopper did his job well, pushing it away from danger.
Alan Buckley's first tactical move was to give Andy Taylor a run-out for the last 17 minutes in place of Jones.
The Mariners manager then brought Peter Till on in place of Boshell with 13 minutes to go.The former Birmingham City man took up a central position and would no doubt add more pace to the Town attack.
In one of their few attacking moves, Barnet reduced the deficit on 79 minutes.CLIFF AKURANG got up well above Barnes to head home his side's first ever goal against Grimsby.
Anthony Thomas replaced Nicky Nicolau for the visitors as they looked to make a bigger dent in the Mariners lead and haul themselves back into the contest.
Those hopes were short lived though as Grimsby hit a fourth with 84 minutes on the clock.Bolland was involved again at the start of a move down the right that led to TAYLOR moving into the box before slotting past Harrison.
The Mariners weren't finished there and they immediately went in search of goal number five.
They almost got it when Fenton hit a fierce shot that Harrison could only push out for a corner.
Buckley's response was to introduce Peter Bore to the action in place of Butler, whose efforts earned him a standing ovation from the Blundell Park crowd.
Three minutes of added time were played before the home supporters acclaimed a comfortable victory that not only brought three invaluable league points but also got the Mariners out of minus figures as far as goal difference is concerned.
