Town Swat Hornets!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 15/04/2001

The Mariners won a very exciting game this afternoon at Blundell Park. Although starting strongly they quickly went on the back foot as Gifton Noel-Williams had the first shot on target after two minutes which Coyne saved.

Town responded 8 minutes later with a corner and a Groves shot cleared by Paul Robinson. Stuart Campbell then minutes later had a goal shot saved.

Steve Livingstone had a great chance to put Grimsby in the lead but headed Tony Gallimore's cross wide in the 22nd minute. Gallimore then tried his own shot from 20 yards but former Spurs keeper Baardsen was able to get to it and cleared. Shortly after Baardsen was substituted by Alec Chamberlain on the half-hour.

Mooney then had a brilliant close-range effort, which brought a terrific save from Grimsby's "Saviour" Danny Coyne who, once again shone in goal. But Mooney struck again on 45 minutes when a through-ball from Steve Palmer left him to volley the ball past Coyne into the corner of the net.

Half Time: Grimsby Town 0 Watford 1

Watford took hold of the game in the first few minutes of the second half and Coyne did well to get to a drive from Page. A corner shortly after found Mooney unmarked who got in a diving header which Coyne saved with one of his one handed stretching dives.

In the 50th minute, Donovan had a run down the right and his cross was missed with no Grimsby player around with Chamberlain and Page on the ground having collided.

Shortly after, Livvo should have equalised as Donovan moved into the box and drew the defenders before slotting the ball through to Livvo who shot straight at the goalie.

Within minutes Town equalised from a free kick on the left which came to Cornwall on the far post who knocked it to Pouton who crossed again and Handyside whacked it in from close range.

Town then took over the game with Pouton placing a cross to Cornwall just too far away from him. Livvo soon had another chance with a superb cross from Donovan which Livvo headed to the goalie.

The winner came shortly after when Cornwall held the ball up and passed to Campbell who crossed to the near post for Coldicott to tap home.

Full Time Grimsby Town 2 Watford 1

Summary by Richard Lord

For the second successive Saturday, Grimsby Town turned a 1-0 half time deficit into victory through a sheer dogged and battling display. After Tommy Mooney put Watford in the lead on the stroke of half time, unlikely goal scorers Handyside and Coldicott found the goals in the second half to bring three very valuable points to Blundell Park.

The Mariners, who were the better side in the first half, had many half chances to take the lead but had to stomach a sickening blow on 45 minutes when the Hornets took the lead. After a long spell of pressure, Graham Taylor's men broke away and Mooney netted against the run of play to break the deadlock.

Grimsby then discovered the fighting spirit, which featured against Tranmere last week to turn the game around. Fans at Blundell Park never got the chance to sit back down in the second half as they witnessed end-to-end action. Finally the Mariners found the goal they so thoroughly deserved on 58 minutes.

A cross was flicked goalwards by Groves, and Handyside headed on, which brought about the equaliser to send the home fans wild. After pulling the scores level, Town went searching for the three points to aid their battle against relegation and put a dent in Watford's ambitious play-off hopes.

Good work down the left and a cross by Gallimore was finished off by Coldicott, coming up from midfield to find the back of the net only for the fourth time in his Grimsby career.

Another home victory was nearly guaranteed, but Grimsby had to soak up some late pressure by the visitors.

News filtering through that Huddersfield and Crystal Palace have lost means that Grimsby climb up several places up the league and first division football next season is now tantalisingly within reaching distance.

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