Town Salvage Draw with Lincoln

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 01/01/2013

GRIMSBY were held to a draw at home by Lincoln in front of over 7000 spectators, but in the circumstances it was a good result for Town. The visitors were the better side for most of the game, and Town had to play the last 20 minutes of the game with 10 men after Thomas received a red card.

Lincoln also had a player dismissed near the end of the game, which several times erupted into violence. City had taken a deserved early lead through Alan Power, but Town equalised midway through the first half when Miller volleyed a ball in following a free kick. After that Lincoln dominated large parts of the game, but were denied by Town's defence, plus their own poor finishing.

Town were unchanged from the side which won at Lincoln on Boxing Day. Lincoln had made several changes from the side which were beaten 4-1 by Town at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln took the lead with a deflected goal after 11 minutes. Lincoln had launched one of their long throws into Town's box and it came back out to Power whose shot glanced off a Town players and gave McKeown no chance.

Town had a chance to equalise straight away, but the keeper smothered the ball and was injured in a clash with Colbeck. Farman, who had a nightmare at Sincil Bank, had to come on for the injured 'keeper Preece.

Town equalised from a free kick was not cleared properly by Lincoln, and Miller's volley found the back of the net off the inside of the post.

The Imps should have gone ahead when Taylor did well to get a cross in to the box, but Oliver side-footed it straight to McKeown.

Lincoln continued to dominate and came close to scoring when Pond cleared off the line with McKeown beaten, although there were strong appeals that it had crossed the line.

The first half ended with Town lucky to still be level at 1-1.

Lincoln continued to be the better side and should have scored from a break early in the second half, but the ball was cleared for a corner. Then McKeown made a great save to deny Taylor.

Following the replacement of Greg Pearson by Southwell, Town improved, and Southwell almost scored from a header at a free kick but the ball was cleared off the line.

After a mass brawl Aswad Thomas was sent off following reaction to a bad tackle by Town's full back.

Town were hanging on but could have won the game with a late chance by Southwell, then Lincoln had a player sent off in injury time.

Grimsby did well in the end to get a 1-1 draw and stay top of the league as a result. 7 points from 3 difficult games at Christmas is an excellent return from a testing period.

The immediate future is uncertain with many players due to leave shortly and Thomas suspended for three games. However new players may well be arriving in the January transfer window, and could be here for the next game with Hereford at Blundell Park on Saturday.

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