Down with a Fight

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 06/12/2020

GRIMSBY were unlucky to come away with nothing after a strong fightback against Colchester. The U's had taken an early lead when Smith put the home side in front. But the Mariners fought back and Hendrie levelled the game with the defender scoring for the second match running.

Early in the second half, Harriott restored Colchester's lead, but Town fought back and piled on the pressure with attack after attack. Only brilliant defending denied Grimsby what would have been a deserved point.

Boss Ian Holloway made three changes with Mattie Pollock, Kyle Bennett and Owen Windsor coming in for Duncan Idehen, Harry Clifton and Matt Green.

Town got off to a nervous start when Pollock was shown a yellow card for a cynical foul on Jevani Brown. The Mariners then conceded from an early corner which the defence failed to clear and it fell to Smith who fired it in off the post.

Grimsby had plenty of possession and Edwards set up Windsor for a good chance but his shot was blocked by the 'keeper. It was Town's turn to score from a corner when Rose's kick was flicked by Hendrie into the net.

With neither side creating much the next significant moment was an injury to Scannell who limped off just before half time.

Harriott restored the lead after the break with a solo effort where he was allowed to turn and shoot and fire past McKeown.

Colchester should have had a third when a free-kick fell to the unmarked Cohen Bramall but he headed wide.

Grimsby then dominated the rest of the game with chance after chance. Waterfall should have scored from a free-kick when he only had to touch the ball from point-blank range, but he was not expecting it to fall to him and failed to react in time.

Taylor replaced Pollock and almost scored with his first touch following a Hewitt long throw, but his shot was charged down.

In the closing stages, Windsor, Gibson and Hendrie all had shots charged down as Colchester defenders threw themselves at the ball again and again. Although Town didn't test the 'keeper much they had plenty of possession and but for the quality of defending would almost certainly have scored.

So the Mariners were beaten but only by the slimmest of margins and there were at least signs to be positive in the next few games.

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