Grimsby 1 Oxford 1

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 17/12/2004

A familiar story was played out as Blundell Park this evening when the Mariners went a goal up against Oxford, dominated the game, and should have scored more. Then early in the second half the U's grabbed an equaliser, and subsequently came into the ascendancy. In the end Town held on for a draw.

Russell Slade stuck with the same line-up that lost at Yeovil on Saturday, ignoring Darren Mansaram's claim for a starting berth after the 20-year-old's hat-trick in midweek for the reserves.

Town got off to a bright start and went into a deserved lead within the first 20 minutes. A pass by Town's playmaker Pinault let in Parkinson, who beat his man and squared to Cramb. The Scot made no mistake with a well-taken side-footed finish.

The turning point of the game came near the end of the first half when Town's goal scorer Colin Cramb had to go off with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Mansaram, but Town were not as effective an attacking force thereafter.

Oxford's best chance of the first 45 minutes was a free kick by Lee Bradbury, which was tipped over by Williams.

Town should have gone 2-0 up early in the second half when Dean Gordon somehow managed to scuff a shot from just one yard out, which the 'keeper managed to save.

Within five minutes Oxford had leveled the game. A Bradbury shot hit the underside of the bar, only to fall to ace goal poacher and curse of Grimsby, Tommy Mooney, who scored from close range.

Both sides had chances to win the game in a scrappy end to the game in windy conditions. Once again, though, Town ended up drawing a game they should have has sewn up by half time.

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