Town started brightly enough with Hockless, Campbell and Boulding linking up well. The wheels soon came off though, and boy did the come off in style.
A bog standard set-piece was slung in by Gavin Strachan. Paul Groves heading past his Aidan Davison in his own goal...oh dear.
Two minutes later it got worse, Simon Ford watched the ball and Marco Gabbiadini go past before pulling the veteran down for a penalty. The ex-Derby man was also responsible for Strachan's free-kick for the first. Up stepped Paul Robinson (remember him?) to put beyond Davision.
Eight minutes later and Gabbiadini won another free-kick. No help from Groves this time as Strachan curled it in himself.
Half-hour mark and Richie Humphrey's makes it four after Robinson dallied through the Town 'defence'. This is fun eh?
Town survived until the break, thanks to Davison's saves and some pretty crap finishing.
Following the break a smidgin of hope was restored, Boulding's cross shot was converted by Jonny Rowan for his first goal in..., well in ages.
Hope over, back to reality on 55 minutes it was 5-1. Robinson strolls past Ford before beating Davison.. Reckon we've still got a chance?
Robinson then went onto set up six and seven for Gabbiadini and Williams respectively before grabbing his hat-trick and number eight on 79 minutes.
Somewhere in there Liam Nimmo came on for Rowan, put himself about a bit and hit the post. See that, a bit of passion and fight. Amazing.
Man of the Match: Brave souls who travelled to watch that shower of shite.
Hartlepool: Provett, Barron, Westwood, Nelson, Robson, Strachan, Tinkler, Humphreys, Eifion Williams, Gabbiadini, Paul Robinson. Subs: Anthony Williams, Clarke, Easter, Istead, McCann.
Grimsby: Davison, Crowe, Ford, Crane, Barnard, Cas, Groves, Campbell, Hockless, Rowan, Boulding. Subs: Bolder, McDermott, Edwards, Soames, Nimmo.