Plymouth sweep past Grimsby to move into League Two promotion places

Posted Wednesday, March 04, 2020 by PA

Promotion-chasing Plymouth got back to winning ways with a 3-0 home win over Grimsby to move into the Sky Bet League Two automatic places.

Argyle produced a first-half display of clinical finishing against a Grimsby side managed by former Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway.

The visitors went close through Elliott Whitehouse’s glancing header early on.

Ryan Hardie got his sights in with a thumping volley which came back off the post in the 15th minute and it was a warning of what was to come.

In the 22nd minute, George Cooper’s pinpoint cross from the left was headed home by midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson.

On-loan Bristol City midfielder Bakinson then turned provider with a defence-splitting pass to send in-form Hardie racing away from the halfway line on the half hour.

Hardie skipped around Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown before netting for his sixth goal since joining the club in January.

Hardie grabbed his second when he tapped in Luke Jephcott’s effort from close range after a 40th-minute goalmouth scramble to increase the lead to 3-0.

Jephcott hit the crossbar and Joe Edwards rattled a post as Plymouth climbed up to third in the table.