Two debut goals from striker Charlie MacDonald helped Brentford kick start their season with a comprehensive demolition of Grimsby Town.

MacDonald notched his brace before half time and Nathan Elder's first Griffin Park goal helped The Bees into a 3-0 lead at the break before Glenn Poole sealed the win on the hour with his first of the season.

And it could have been even more as Brentford dismantled their lacklustre opponents after MacDonald's opening goal.

The nippy striker gave a Brentford fans a sign of what might come this season when he curled the ball with the outside of his right foot over Grimsby goalkeeper Phil Barnes from the edge of the penalty area.

But the goal owed much to central defender James Wilson who had carved through the Grimsby back line after picking up a throw in before releasing MacDonald.

The Bees thrived after MacDonald's strike but the game was fairly even beforehand, Ban Hamer had produced a fine save to dent Tom Newey and Andy Taylor had lifted the ball over after being put through.

Nathan Elder had an effort blocked and MacDonald headed over before he broke through but after that it was one-way traffic.

Wilson headed wide at the far post and MacDonald had a shot blocked before Grimsby handed Brentford a second goal.

Barnes came for a Johnson cross which curved away from him in the strong wind and when he missed it Marvin Williams headed across for Elder to lash home.

Barnes saved well from Poole and watched Elder head into the side netting before MacDonald just about wrapped it up when he slotted home a lofted Alan Bennett pass moments before the break.

There was still time for Poole to have a shot deflected wide and Barnes to smother at Williams' feet before half time, which could not come soon enough for the beleaguered visitors.

They sacrificed a striker at the break in an attempt to salvage some pride but they could not deal with Elder who skipped down the right and pulled the ball back for Poole to lash home the fourth with 30 minutes remaining.

Grimsby created little - Hamer saved from Simon Heslop, James Hunt headed off target and Adam Newton cleared from deep inside his penalty area - and most of the action was at the other end.

Williams and Poole both miss-hit efforts from god positions and Bennett sliced a volley when unmarked from a Poole corner.

Moses Ademola shot into the side netting, Poole had a shot blocked and then one saved and Brentford felt they should have earned a penalty when Elder was pulled down in the box but nothing was given.

And The Bees even denied Grimsby a consolation goal, Hamer saving from Danny North late on, to round off an excellent day with a clean sheet.

Brentford: Hamer; Newton, Bennett (sub Phillips 88 mins), Wilson, Johnson; Williams (sub Ademola 75 mins), Pead, O'Connor, Poole; Elder, MacDonald

Subs (not used): Brown, Connell, Osborne

Grimsby Town: Barnes; Bennett, Heywood, Hope, Newey; Till, Heslop, Hunt, Llewellyn (sub North 63 mins); Taylor (sub Hegarty h/t), Butler

Subs (not used): Montgomery, Clarke, Bore

Written by Chris Wickham