Town Win Derby Day

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 28/12/2015

GRIMSBY won the Lincolnshire derby in front of the BT Sport cameras and a sell-out home crowd at Blundell Park in a high-tempo clash. The Mariners took a first half lead through Padraig Amond before Lincoln's Luke Waterfall was sent off for pulling back Amond when he would have been clean through on goal.

In the second half Town had several chances to finish Lincoln off, and eventually Arnold scored the crucial second goal which effectively won the match for Grimsby.

Paul Hurst picked the same side which had beaten Dover in the last league game. After a typical rumbustious start to a derby match with passions running high but few clear cut chances Grimsby broke the deadlock when a piece of brilliance by Bogle saw him turn and beat his man near the corner flag and deliver an inch perfect cross to his striker partner Amond who rose and powered a header past the 'keeper.

Lincoln had a good chance for an equaliser quite quickly with their first effort of note. Muldoon burst clear for a one-on-one with McKeown but Town's 'keeper blocked the shot with his feet and the lead remained intact.

The next key moment came shortly after when Waterfall hauled back Amond on the edge of the box. Amond would have been clean through with just the 'keeper to beat and Waterfall was the last defender so the referee had no choice but to show the red card. Lincoln adjusted by moving Bradley Wood from midfield into defence and making Rhead a solitary striker.

Disley was next to come to the referee's attention when he was late for a challenge with Hawkridge near the dugouts. The Lincoln players reacted to the challenge and tried to get Town's captain sent off but it was only a yellow card offence and that's what the referee gave.

Bogle had a good chance when Amond set him up just before half time but the striker fluffed the opportunity and Grimsby had to settle for going into the break a goal up and a man up.

Early in the second off Townsend limped off injured and was replaced by Robinson. A few minutes later Amond picked out Arnold who had a clear run on goal but a heavy touch took the ball wide and Arnold could only hit the side-netting.

Lincoln looked most likely to get a goal from a set piece or a long throw-in, but it was Grimsby who continued to create the chances and Arnold, Bogle and Amond all had chances to extend Town's lead.

Eventually, Grimsby finally got the execution right in front of goal and the ball was played into Arnold who burst into the box and drilled the ball into the net from close range.

Amond should have made it 3-0 when he blasted a good chance over while Lincoln failed to really create a chance of note.

In the end, it was a well-deserved win for the Mariners. The sending off obviously helped Town enormously but Grimsby were already in front when it happened and Amond could well have scored the chance which resulted in a red card, which is why Waterfall was forced to make the foul in the first place.

With most of the other sides at the top picking up maximum points Grimsby have consolidated their top 5 spot but are still a long way off leaders Cheltenham who ground out another win.

The Mariners take on Guiseley at home on January 2nd.

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