Town Romp Past Boston

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 03/02/2007

THE Mariners romped home to an extraordinary 6-0 victory away at relegation rivals Boston United, belying both their recent trends of not scoring goals and conceding plenty. Peter Bore was the hero for Grimsby, scoring a maiden hat trick to celebrate his recall to the side.

A good away contingent assembled at York Street and entertained themselves by loudly taunting their rural neighbours with accusations of inbreeding and incest ahead of the kick off.

Alan Buckley meanwhile once again rung the changes from the side which lost so poorly at Torquay last weekend. Departing from his beloved 4-4-2 the Town boss recalled Peter Bore to a 5 man midfield, with Gary Jones having to settle for a place on the bench. New signing Matthew Bloomer started the game in the right back position, and Fenton made a welcome return in central defence.

Town got off to the perfect start. The ball was played up to lone striker Martin Paterson, whose fierce shot was parried by Marriott, but fell to Ciaran Toner. The Irishman tried to chip the ball over the 'keeper, and may have succeeded but Peter Bore was on hand at the far post to make sure and head it in.

It was the first time this year that Grimsby had taken the lead in a game, and it produced scenes of wild delirium.

Boston almost came back straight away but Newey was on hand to make a perfectly timed last ditch tackle to avert danger.

Within a couple of minutes the Mariners had made it two and this time Bore was the provider when his ball into the box broke to midfielder James Hunt, who had a tap-in to make it 2-0.

Once more Boston threatened Town's goal however and Fenton was forced to clear the ball off his line.

Grimsby's third attempt on goal produced a third goal. Boston allowed Toner space on the edge of the box to measure up for a shot, and the midfielder clipped the ball low and hard into the bottom of the goal past the 'keeper.

Once again Town's defence were ruffled by the Boston players. Barnes failed to punch the ball completely, which left the goal at Boston's mercy but Bolland was on hand to clear the ball of the line.

Boston then whipped a ball into the box to the feet of Broughton, close in on goal, who somehow managed to crash the ball against the bar.

Barnes then flapped again and Bloomer this time was needed to make a goal line clearance.

To rub Boston's noses in, Town went up the field and scored their fourth, Newey delivering a perfect ball into the box which Peter Bore dispatched with a powerful header past Marriott.

The 4-0 scoreline at half time undoubtedly flattered the Mariners a little as Grimsby scored from all their chances, whereas Boston had probably had as many chances but failed to convert any of them.

Having taken such an early lead, Grimsby's five man midfield worked to their advantage as it allowed them to counter attack quickly and have the width to get decent balls into the box for Paterson and whichever midfielders broke forward.

After the break though Town stepped up a gear and emphatically outplayed Boston, who were restricted to only scraps in the second period.

Grimsby, who by now were passing the ball around with a new found confidence, extended their lead from a corner in response to the Town supporters' chant of "We Want Five". Fenton's header struck the bar, but Paterson was quickest to react and he bundled the ball into the net from a narrow angle. It was the first goal in front of our own supporters, but the on-loan Stoke striker got booked for going into the crowd and celebrating.

Paterson then almost set up Peter Bore for his hat trick, but his cross was narrowly intercepted by a Boston defender.

But the icing on the cake for the Mariners came when Peter Bore sidefooted the ball home for his hat trick with 12 minutes to go.

Grimsby still looked a little uncomfortable in defence, especially in the first half, but the biggest transformation without doubt was the number of quality balls into the box and chances created by a team who have barely had a sniff in front of goal all year. Peter Bore is likely now one imagines to have booked himself an extended spell in the first team after several weeks of not figuring in Alan Buckley's plans. Boston must hate the sight of him, as Bore has scored 5 of his 8 goals against them.

Man of the Match was Ciaran Toner with an overall superb display, some great passes and quality crosses from the left side of midfield.

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