Bradford City recorded a comfortable win at struggling Grimsby as Stuart McCall's men were by far the better side.
In tricky conditions, the visitors were full value for the victory in what was ex-Bantam Neil Woods's first game in charge for Grimsby.
Bradford took control from the start and the only surprise was that it took them 23 minutes to score. Gareth E
vans wasted a great chance and then Simon Whaley hit the ball over the bar when well-placed. But Whaley made no mistake when he was left in space outside the penalty box and fired in from 20 yards.
Grimsby only looked dangerous from set pieces and Simon Eastwood did well to keep out Olly Lancashire's header – but the home side should have scored when former City striker Barry Conlon misjudged his header in the wind to miss the ball completely.
Despite the home side's chances, it was still City looking by far the better team and they deservedly got the second on the hour mark. Grimsby defender Damien McCrory misjudged a header in the wind and sent the ball back towards his own goal with Steve Williams getting the final touch to claim the goal.
City sealed the victory with eight minutes left when James Hanson lashed the ball home from 18 yards with Grimsby's defence again absent.
Grimsby Town: Colgan; Bore, Lancashire, Linwood, McCrory; Featherstone, Leary, Sweeney, Shahin (Akpra Akpro 64), Conlon (Forbes 80), Coulson (Wood 75).
Unused Substitutes: Boshell, Clarke, North, Overton.
Bradford City: Eastwood; Ramsden, Williams, Rehman, L O'Brien; Flynn, Bullock, J O'Brien; Whaley, Hanson, Evans.
Unused Substitutes: Clarke, Brandon, M Boulding, R Boulding, Bateson, Neilson, McLaughlin.
Referee: D Deadman (Cambs).
