Derby Day Loss

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 28/12/2014

GRIMSBY succumbed to close rivals Lincoln City for the second time this season. Town were leading 1-0 and seemingly in control of the game. Then a purple patch of two quick goals for City just before half time turned the game on its head and Town were never able to regain their dominance.

A third goal midway through the second half put the game beyond reach for Town and City ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in the end, much to the disappointment of most of the 7000 supporters who had assembled for the big derby game.

Suspended Toto Nsiala was replaced by Carl Magnay, and Daniel Parslow moved to centre-back in a reshuffle of the back four. Midfielders Jack Mackreth and Scott Brown both dropped to the bench, to be replaced by Scott Neilson and Craig Clay respectively.

Bencherif had the best chance of the early part of the game, but his shot was cleared off the line on 7 minutes.

Town took the lead on 20 minutes when Lincoln allowed a loose ball in the box to arrive at the feet of Pittman. The striker looped a ball into the path of the onrushing Disley who headed it past the 'keeper to put Town 1-0 up.

At this stage Town looked rampant with the front players linking up well and it looked like it was only a matter of time before they added to their tally.

Neilson had never looked in the game and was replaced midway through the first half by Mackreth.

Lincoln were mainly limited to long range shots and, from one of these by Newton, McKeown did well to tip the ball round his post, but from the ensuing corner Adams blasted in another long range effort from 30 yards.

Lincoln added another almost straight away. A run down the right hand side by Marshall split the Town defence and the players were queuing up on the far post, but it fell to Power who steered it back into the net to give City an unlikely lead.

In the second half John-Lewis and Mackreth combined well and the latter forced a save from the Lincoln keeper.

With Town pressing for an equaliser Lincoln managed to break and should have scored as they had a numerical advantage in the Town box, but Tomlinson struck the crossbar and Town were given a reprieve.

The third goal when it came was a repeat of the second. Marshall rampaged down the right hand side and pulled the ball back for Newton to slot in from close range, with the Town defence all over the place.

Lincoln managed to defend the two goal lead without being unduly troubled in the final 20 minutes.

This was not a game Grimsby should have lost but when they conceded, which can always happen, they never seemed to have the fight or belief to get themselves back in the game.

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