The Full Monty

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 20/11/2007

GRIMSBY turned the form book upside down tonight with a superb 1-0 victory over League One leaders Carlisle United in front of less than 2000 of their own supporters. What's more Town achieved the their first clean sheet of the season, and a striker who started the game scored a goal!

Town were forced to make less changes than had been anticipated although the biggest shock was 'keeper Phil Barnes having to miss the game through injury. Paul Bolland passed a late fitness test and started in central midfield. Gary Jones and Danny North were the spearhead to a 4-4-2 formation.

Town got off to a terrible start in the first minute when a defensive mistake by Bennett gave Garner a great chance but, from a great position, he missed the ball.

Just when the Mariners' fans had begun anticipating a long night ahead of them Town broke at the other end, and North superbly turned and volleyed a cross from Peter Till which struck the post. With 3 minutes gone it could have been 1-1.

Then in the sixth minute of a very open game Graham's header went just wide after a series of Carlisle corners.

Town struck the woodwork again when a header from Gary Jones hit the post and within a minute Westwood made a great save to deny a Gary Jones header. Would Town regret missing their chances?

Stand-in 'keeper Gary Montgomery kept Town in the game on 35 minutes with a great save from Gallen. Then Paul Bolland limped off and was replaced by Hegarty, with Toner moving to a more central position.

The match ended goalless at half time with Grimsby having had the best of an open game.

After a quiet first 15 minutes of the second half, on 61 minutes Gary Jones scored a brilliant goal to bring the game to life. Following a clever 1-2 with Danny North, the big striker flicked the ball with the outside of his right boot and lobbed it over the keeper off the underside of the bar. It was a goal which deserved to win any game.

Town then withstood 30 minutes of Carlisle pressure, during which time Montgomery made several quality saves from Graham and Garner in particular.

But Town had chances at the other end and Toner and North both had opportunities to extend the Mariners lead but were denined by the 'keeper.

Grimsby however hung on and well deserved the most unlikely victory, in which they had outplayed the best team in the competition over two matches. They now face Huddersfield away on the 1st December in Round Two.

Maybe Alan Buckley should tell his players that Saturday's game against Barnet is a cup game against a League One side?

A full report will appear later.

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