Poor old Grimsby. They had one of those coming from us for a long old time. That said we're still due a few more after what we've been through with them. They were a poor side, low in confidence, and became visibly lower in confidence after the first two goals.
To be fair to them, they started very brightly. We were what you might call 'asleep' during the opening stages and they had a few glimpses of goal. However, once the rejuvenated Yannick Bolasie got a chance to stretch his legs, his tricky feet and ridiculous pace got the better of the Grimsby defender whose outstretched leg bought the winger down. John O'Flynn stepped up and dispatched his second penalty in as many games. Nice.
The referee was already struggling with 'fussy ref' syndrome, pulling back play for the most minimal of contact. However he gave us another scoring opportunity minutes later just outside the box. O'Flynn's shot wasn't his best, but the rebound fell to Adomah whose shot struck the inside of the post, rippled into the roof of the net and bounced out. A little confusion, but it clearly went in, and Paul Furlong went and smashed it in for good measure anyway, just in case.
Poor old Grimsby. How were they in this position? They hadn't started too badly. But as the old saying goes, nothing goes right for you when you're at the bottom. Their heads had visibly dropped and you got the feeling that this game was almost over already. More bad luck followed for Town as Michael Leary was bought on. Actually that's a bit harsh, I liked Michael Leary's endeavour and effort, it was just his rash decisions that often cost him. And his erratic passing.
I felt sorry for their supporters. They bought loads down, as they always do. 539 in fact. That's a superb turnout whatever way you slice it. Down at the bottom, struggling more than a three legged dog at Crufts and their fans still travelled down in excellent numbers. They got behind their team pretty well early on too. Grimsby's supporters deserved better.
The rest of the half mostly consisted of Barnet pressure. We were playing well all over the pitch. The forwards looked strong, Bolasie again impressed, Adomah is always going to be a threat. In the central midfield pairing of Hyde and Hughes we are solid and dependable. On the ball, Hyde is still a fine player and can always pick a pass. And why have we suddenly looked so solid at the back? Gary Breen? It must be musn't it.
There were a couple more very valid penalty shouts involving Furlong and Yakubu both being hauled down. The particularly poor officials were having none of it. The referee struggled for both sides. Not his best afternoon, it must be said.
Poor old Grimsby never seriously looked like they were going to get back into the game, even when they bought on Danny North, who always scores against us and big Barry Colon. No, that's not a typo. The game was over when Bolasie fired a mental one from miles out. Usually, Yannick tends to fire his distant shots a long way over and wide of the target. My shout of 'over' just as he hit it couldn't have been more accurate. It flew into the top corner, amazing goal.
They were all getting very annoyed and frustrated now. Midfielder Sweeney was having words with us in the Main Stand, the stroppy soul, and Danny North threw a paddy when Colon was sent off for an elbow on Gillet, whose reaction of pain was a little delayed, shall we say. North was booked for kicking the ball away and he soon feigned an injury in the centre circle before miraculously springing back to life to complete his aimless run. They weren't taking this very well, but I guess you wouldn't take being 3-0 down at Barnet very well, would you?
So that's how it finished and it's the perfect reposte to last week's shocker at Rotherham. Two home wins, five goals for, none against. Perfect. We got the kick up the arse we needed and now we're back on track. We've got a distraction in the form of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Charlton on Tuesday, which promises much in the way of frivolity and capers if nothing else. Should be a good one really. It's good to watch Barnet right now, I can't remember the last time I said that.
Just to rub salt into the wound for the poor old Grimsby fans, there was not even a hint of appreciation from their players for their efforts in supporting them. It just smacked of a whole club at a low, and I can sympathise with them having been in similar positions in the last four years.
Still, it's onwards and upwards for us, how very enjoyable.
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