Grimsby 0 MK Dons 1

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 07/03/2008

MILTON Keynes Dons completed the double over the Mariners at Blundell Park this evening, a solitary goal from O'Hanlon early in the first half proving to be the only goal of the game.

Town started without Danny North, Alan Buckley rewarding Peter Bore for his fine performance in the league game with Morecambe with a place in the starting XI.

But the combination of Bore and Till playing behind him proved toothless and the Mariners struggled to create anything against a strong, powerful, well-organised defensive unit.

O'Hanlon scored from a corner, the ball flicking off the top of his head and going over the line, with Newey hacking the ball away after a split second too late to prevent it being a goal. The linesman looked to have made the right decision when he gave a goal.

Once they scored MK Dons wasted as much time as they could and defended in depth. Town were hopeless in the first half and had Phil Barnes to thank for keeping the score down to 1-0 just before half time.

The referee, despite warning MK Dons for wasting time, allowed just 1 minute of injury time and then played none of it.

After the break Buckley brought on the two big strikers Jones and Butler. Town's attack had teeth all of a sudden, and the Mariners had a good spell shortly after half time. Rob Atkinson had a great chance for a corner but his header went narrowly wide.

Town's resurgence proved short lived and as the game went on MK Dons increasingly had the game under their control, using every opportunity to waste time.

Grimsby had two great chances to score an equaliser right at the death. First Gueret made a fantastic close range save from a Nick Fenton header. Then with practically the last kick of the game Butler headed wide from about a few yards out when the ball was crossed on a plate to him by Newey. Town did not really deserve a point but they had two great chances after many fans had left.

MK Dons are like the original Wimbledon. Big, strong, powerful, very fit and well organised. They have beaten Town twice in the league and will prove formidable opposition at Wembley on March 30th.

A full report will appear tomorrow.

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