Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park

A SINGLE goal just before half time was enough to condemn Grimsby Town to their fifth league defeat of the season.

Neal Bishop netted for Barnet to give the North London side their first win of the season and at the same time, register their first ever victory over the Mariners.

Grimsby had begun brightly, with a side containing three new players looking to attack at a high tempo and some good approach play hinted at positive signs to come.

But when the visitors used their pace and power to play their way into the game, Grimsby lost their way and Bishop's goal was enough to take all three points.

After the break, the visitors' direct approach kept them on top and the hosts could find no answers.

Grimsby's search for a win goes on and after their opponents leapfrogged them in the League Two table following this result, only the three teams on minus points stand between town and the bottom of the table.

It was a new-look Town side that started Stuart Watkiss' first home game in charge.

New boys Liam Trotter, Malvin Kamara and Tomi Ameobi all took their places among the starting XI, with Danny Boshell, Nick Hegarty and Nathan Jarman all missing from the last time the mariners played at Blundell Park.

Phil Barnes kept his place in goal and there was a four-man defence of Robbie Stockdale, making his first league start since the opening day of the season, Matt Heywood, Ryan Bennett and Tom Newey.

Kamara began on the right wing, with James Hunt partnering Trotter in the centre of the park and Peter Till taking up an unfamiliar left wing berth.Chris Llewellyn was the man chosen to play alongside Ameobi in attack, while the Grimsby substitutes were Gary Montgomery, Hegarty, Danny North, Simon Heslop and Jarman.

Barnet travelled north looking for their first ever win over Grimsby.In six attempts, Paul Fairclough's men had never taken so much as a single point against the Mariners, while the Bees had also conceded 17 goals in that time, scoring just one in reply.

Among the men trying to alter that statistic was Nicky Nicolau, the left-sider who had failed to impress in a one-week trial with Grimsby before the start of this season.

Town played in the red shirts that would usually be deployed in away matches as the visitors' white shirts would have been deemed to present a clash with the Mariners' black and white home colours.

The first shot in anger came within 30 seconds of the kick-off, with Barnet's Albert Adomah slicing wide from 20 yards.

The first Town move saw Newey play a ball through to Llewellyn that beat the visiting defence but the Welshman's run had put him in an offside position.

Four minutes were on the clock when Kamara had his first run at the away defence.His cross was chested down by Ameobi for Llewellyn to shoot over the bar from the edge of the area.

Town had begun the game well, attacking with a high tempo.That was shown again on eight minutes, when a flowing move involving Hunt and Llewellyn almost set Ameobi free left of centre.Again, the offside flag halted the Mariners' progress though.

Ameobi was fouled 25 yards out three minutes later after he had held the ball up well.Newey's shot from the free kick hit the wall and Barnet broke through Adomah.The Londoners could not make the break count though as the winger's pass had too much on it for John O'Flynnand the ball ran for a goal kick.

The first yellow card of the game was shown to Barnet defender Kenny Gillet for a foul out on the Town right.The Mariners couldn't create a chance in front of goal but they continued to dominate and they were handed another set-piece in a much better position minutes later.

Till was looking to break into the penalty area when he was pulled back by Ashley Carew on the edge of the box.The Bees right back was booked for the offence and Newey's free kick was blasted over the bar, taking a deflection for a corner.

The opening half-hour had now passed without either goalkeeper being tested.The Mariners had looked the more likely to break the deadlock with some bright approach play but were yet to register a shot on target, while Barnet's main threat had come from the pacy Adomah.

The game stopped temporarily when Kamara was the victim of a poor challenge from Ismail Yakubu on the Town right.The loanee stayed down after the tackle but he was fit to continue after receiving treatment.

Barnet had a chance to take the lead on 37 minutes when Carew was not picked up from a throw-in and he was allowed acres of space to cross from the right.Striker Cliff Akurang got his head to it but couldn't provide power or direction as the ball skipped wide.

Trotter won a throw level with the edge of the penalty area on 41 minutes but as Stockdale's low cross came in, Hunt couldn't quite get to it and Barnet keeper Lee Harrison was able to gather the ball.

Two minutes later, the opening goal came and despite Town being on top, it was the visitors who went ahead.Bennett was beaten by the pace of Adomah on the right and his low cross was sidefooted past Barnes by midfielder NEAL BISHOP.

It was the first attempt on target by either side and only the second goal Barnet had ever registered against the Mariners.

Town were given plenty of time to haul themselves level before the break when five minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official.

Bishop could have grabbed his second of the game in the second of those added minutes when he drilled a low shot from 30 yards but Barnes managed to get fingertips to the ball, deflecting it past the post for a corner.

No further opportunities were created before the half-time whistle and it was the visitors who finished the half the stronger.

Town had enjoyed a good start to the half but Paul Fairclough's Barnet side had soaked up the pressure before playing their way into the game.Adomah had been a thorn in Town's side and his pace led to the goal that separated the two sides at the break.

No substitutions were made at half time and the opening minute of the second half hinted at a continuation of the scrappy play that had made up much of the opening 45 minutes.

Barnet were looking to play the game inside the Mariners half, with long balls the key ingredient in their direct approach.

Grimsby's first chance to create problems after the restart came when Stockdale was fouled by Bishop 25 yards out.Newey swept the ball in but nobody could direct it towards goal.

Soon afterwards, the Mariners had a corner and after a short routine, Barnet struggled to clear their lines and Grimsby had a short period of pressure.Bennett played the ball in before it was cleared to Till.He sent another cross into the danger zone but after it was half-cleared, the ball could only find its way back to Harrison.

Barnet could have doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Akurang made a run into the Town half before passing to strike partner O'Flynn in acres of space on the right.He cut into the penalty area but wasted the chance, scuffing the shot wide.

Stuart Watkiss chose this moment to make a double substitution, sending on Danny North and Nathan Jarman to form a new strikeforce in place of Llewellyn and Ameobi.

The pace and power of Barnet attackers Akurang and Adomah was ensuring the North London outfit were in control at the hour mark, with the visitors looking as likely to extend their lead as town were to cancel it out.

Watkiss made his final change on 62 minutes, with Simon Heslop sent on to replace Hunt.

Town won a corner through Kamara four minutes later but Till's kick was claimed by Harrison.

Then at the other end, Adomah won his side a corner and from it, they very nearly made it 2-0.Bennett got a vital touch on the ball off his head and he just did enough to put Akurang off his own header from close range.

The Barnet man was adjudged to have had the last touch as the ball went over the bar in front of the tiny band of travelling supporters.

Stockdale became the first Town player to have his name taken by the referee when he caught Akurang with a high challenge 20 yards inside the Town half with 16 minutes left to play.

Town were inches away from an equaliser on 76 minutes when Stockdale crossed from the right after the best Mariners passing move of the half but the ball just eluded the advancing Kamara, who perhaps only had to make contact with it to put his side level.

Barnet's first substitution was made with 10 minutes to go.Former Arsenal trainee Adam Burchill was the man to come on in place of O'Flynn.

The home crowd were suddenly brought to life on 82 minutes when the Mariners finally registered a shot on target.Stockdale played a ball through to North before it was flicked back to Kamara.

The Huddersfield winger struck a swerving shot from 20 yards that was comfortable for Harrison.The away keeper caught the ball but the shot alone was enough to draw sections of the Town support from their seats in what was perhaps ironic applause.

As the game neared its conclusion, Barnet looked to keep the ball in the corner and wind the clock down towards a vital three points.Town were still struggling to create any danger and it was looking more and more like their hunt for a first win of the season would continue.

That was how it proved when the final whistle blew with Barnet still in front and Grimsby now head to Sheffield next Saturday for a meeting with Rotherham United at the Don valley Stadium.