Grimsby 1-1 Peterborough

By: Richard Lord
Date: 06/09/2003

MICHAEL Boulding's fifth goal of the season rescued a point for Grimsby as they drew 1-1 against Peterborough this afternoon at Blundell Park.

Mike Edwards was the man to replace Darren Barnard as Jason Crowe missed out through injury. Other than that, the team was unchanged from the side that went down 1-0 at Bristol City.

The bench was filled with youth and inexperience, with Andy Pettinger, Greg Young, Wes Parker, Graham Hockless and David Soames making up the squad of 16.

The visitors were out of the blocks very quickly, and they could have taken the lead earlier than when they actually did.

A shaky back four allowed McKenzie and Clarke time and space in the area but the strikers failed to make an impact.

On 17 minutes the Posh took a deserved lead when Newton was fed the ball out on the right, and his curling effort lodged into the top corner of Davison's net.

The goal failed to be the wake-up call that the Mariners desperately needed, and Groves' side continued to give the ball away cheaply.

Peterborough could have added to their goal but somehow their wayward shooting and lack of conviction in the air let the Mariners off the hook.

Farrell could only stand an applause a fantastic save from Davison when he saw his rasping volley somehow tipped wide.

The home fans were entertained with just one half chance when Boulding's low shot was hooked away by Tyler in goal fairly comfortably.

The second half produced much better football by Town, but Peterborough were still sniffing out half chances.

Cas and Legg were involved in an altercation in front of the Pontoon and Main stand, but with Legg appearing to be the aggressor, both were shown a yellow card.

Grimsby should have gone 2-0 down when 'Boro broke away, but Clarke dragged his shot onto the far post and the ball bounced away to safety.

Hockless replaced Bolder, with the youngster staring on the left and Campbell went inside to the centre.

Tyler wasn't called into any serious action, but on 80 minutes he was picking the ball out of the net following Town's first serious shot on goal.

Mike Edwards cleared the ball when under pressure and his punt forward was collected by Boulding, and his fantastic first touch took him away from the two covering defenders.

Tyler was drawn out of his goal and Boulding stabbed the ball home through the legs of the despairing keeper. It was a great relief to a player who had been caught offside constantly throughout the afternoon.

The Mariners could have gone on to win it but there was a lack of clear-cut chances and the visitors remained a threat on the break. Soames replaced Rowan with four minutes remaining.

In the dying minutes, Boulding was clearly tugged back in the area, but with the linesman flagging, the referee ignored the players' protests.

In the end it was a point gained, but in the context of a hopeful season, it was two points dropped.

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