Bristol Rovers ease relegation fears by ending Grimsby’s unbeaten run

Tottenham loanee Yusuf Akhamrich was the Bristol Rovers hero as the Gas eased their relegation worries and ended Grimsby’s long unbeaten run with a 3-1 win at the Memorial Stadium.

The 20-year-old Londoner stood out with an early assist to help put Rovers in command before sealing victory with a composed second-half finish as he registered his fourth goal since heading to Rovers last month.

On-loan Motherwell defender Kofi Balmer gave Rovers a perfect start in stunning style when he volleyed in from 20 yards after Richie Smallwood’s free kick was only half cleared to stun visitors aiming to extend a 10-match undefeated League Two run.

It went from bad to worse for the Mariners when Rovers forward Joe Quigley doubled the lead on seven minutes as he drove in a first-time shot from 15 yards after being cleverly teed up by Akhamrich.

Grimsby then dominated and on-loan Bradford striker Andy Cook scored his third goal in a week to halve the deficit on 38 minutes with a turn and close-range finish following Charles Vernam’s cross.

Rovers steadied themselves after the break and Akhamrich restored the two-goal advantage on 63 minutes with an assured finish, rolling a low shot into the right-hand corner of Jordan Smith’s goal after Ellis Harrison’s lay-off, to ease Rovers nerves.