Manchester City's Bermudian striker Shaun Goater scored his fastest goal of the season yesterday to move amongst the club's top 20 goalscorers of all time.

Goater struck after just 110 seconds against Grimsby Town as City ended four league games without a victory by romping to a 4-0 home win.

The goal that got promotion-chasing City back on the winning trail came when Goater connected with a Danny Tiatto cross at the far post to knock in his 15th goal of the season in 16 games.

The goal was also Goater's 80th overall for the club and moves him into the top 20 of City's leading scorers, at a strike rate of less than a goal every two games. He joins Carlin Barlow, George Smith and Bobby Marshall whose 80 goals came in 189, 179 and 355 games respectively.

Goater's goals have come in 144 league and cup games since his March, 1998, transfer from Bristol City.

His strike last night paved the way for City's first home league win since September 25 against Walsall as Steve Howey headed in Stuart Pearce's right wing corner to make it 2-0 in the 21st minute.

In-form striker Darren Huckerby then netted three minutes later to put City 3-0 by the half as the Mariners were kept under pressure. Huckerby closed out the scoring in the 64th minute as City comfortably bagged all three points.

Prior to the game, Goater called on the City fans to get behind their slumping team following the weekend's 2-1 loss to Preston North End.

"We feel we deserved the rollicking the gaffer gave us after we lost the game at Preston on Sunday," said Goater.

"The gap is getting bigger and bigger between us and the top of the division and that cannot go on."

Leaders Crystal Palace's 1-0 loss to Burnley last night enabled the chasing teams to close in, with City climbing a couple of places in the table to within just four points of the leaders.

Meanwhile, Kyle Lightbourne was missing with a hamstring injury as Macclesfield lost 1-0 at home to Hartlepool last night.