Town Give a Little Extra at Halifax

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 17/09/2014

GRIMSBY came from behind with a much-improved performance to claim a deserved draw at Halifax. The Mariners controlled much of the first half with a fine passing display, and other than a few late scares largely contained an in-form Halifax side.

The Mariners had initially gone a goal down after conceding from a free kick where McKeown seemed to be poorly positioned.

But Town rose to the challenge and a Neilson-inspired performance soon saw Grimsby back level. Town's man of the match brilliantly found the space to shoot Town level then from that point for the remainder of the first half Neilson ran the show.

Town looked dangerous whenever they went forward and passed the ball superbly, with Clay and Brown also outstanding in midfield.

In the second half Halifax came more into it but Grimsby still look capable of winning it and Mackreth missed a good chance for Grimsby.

The Mariners had a few late scares but it would have been a travesty if they had lost.

Town started the game playing the 4-5-1/4-3-3 system with Hannah the lone striker, and Neilson and Mackreth the wide players.

Halifax took a very early lead when poor positioning by McKeown allowed Marshall to score after just 4 minutes. The writing looked on the wall for Town's third defeat on the spin but Grimsby soon shrugged off the goal and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Town's talisman Neilson finished off a neat passing move to level the game just ten minutes later. Although Halifax would point to a blatant handball by Grimsby that the referee missed in the build up.

With Neilson running the show, Town looked to have scored again but a Brown effort was disallowed for offside after good combination play by Neilson and Hannah.

In the second half Neilson latched on to a bad backpass and played Hannah through. The Town striker decided to try and chip the 'keeper but didn't get the height on the ball and the goalie was able to pluck the ball out of the air.

Town's best chance of the second half fell to Mackreth but his low shot was saved by the 'keeper's feet.

Halifax pressed forward in the last ten minutes and Town had to survive a few scares but the Mariners held on for a deserved point.

Over 450 Town fans applauded the team off at the end.

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