Grimsby 2-0 Notts County

By: Richard Lord
Date: 21/10/2003

A goal in each half from striker Mick Boulding ensured Town collected three points over troubled Notts County. The visitors, for the main part, belied their lowly league position but the Mariners took their chances to move further up the table.

Mike Edwards was able to start for the home side after recovering from a broken nose against Colchester. One noticeable absentee from the bench was versatile Jason Crowe, with Groves choosing a keeper amongst the five benchwarmers.

The opening exchanges were mainly dominated by Grimsby, with half chances falling to Campbell and Anderson, who rifled a shot in from a very tight angle, which almost caught County keeper Mildenhall by surprise.

The Mariners edged ahead when a hooked ball forward from Campbell fell in between goalkeeper and defence and Boulding managed to poke home after the keeper fumbled under pressure.

It was a deserved lead but then the visitors started to take charge of the game. Their lengthy spells of possession eventually managed to carve open some good opportunities.

Davison was thankful to see a shot smack off his near post when caught wrong-footed, and Caskey tested the keeper from 25-yards with Davison equal to the challenge.

Town were relieved to get through to half time 1-0 up, and the second half didn't suggest that there would be any change in the pattern of play as it was County who were quicker out of the starting blocks.

Anderson stroked the ball just wide following a good corner routine, but County were finding spaces and pushing further up the field looking for the equaliser.

As that happened, Town were taking advantages of County's high back line and Boulding could, and perhaps should, have grabbed a hat-trick.

He doubled Town's lead after a quick free kick was charged down by Campbell 35 yards out, and his lofted ball forward brought Boulding into the area before firing home to make it 2-0.

He then tested Mildenhall from just outside the area and also saw a shot clear the bar before firing his best chance at the legs of the redeemed keeper.

Campbell had found himself time and space in the box but took too much time over measuring his shot and it ended up being a routine save for Mildenhall, who still managed to spill the ball behind for a corner.

County didn't go without having their fair share of chances, but they found Davison in good form.

Marcel Cas came on for the last eight minutes and Mansaram replaced Onuora just as the clock was ticking into injury time.

The 2-0 win was probably a complete opposite of Saturday's performance, with Town creating many chances - especially as the game progressed when County were looking for a way back into the game.

They could have easily conceded, with Caskey pulling the strings in midfield - and with better finishing, the game could have been a whole lot closer than it ended up being.

The win pushes the Mariners up to 14th in the table, just three points off a play-off place. It also sees them overtake Swindon Town, while the defeat leaves County second from bottom.

League Table

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