Town Grind Out a Win

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 23/10/2021

GRIMSBY ground out a 2-0 win at home to Yeovil to maintain their 100% home start to the season, although the Mariners were far from their best. Lenell John-Lewis scored another penalty to put the Mariners in front in the first half, but Town only made certain of the points in the closing stages thanks to John McAtee.

With several fringe players having been given an opportunity in the FA Cup last week, Paul Hurst returned to the XI which beat Woking, with one enforced change (John-Lewis for Ryan Taylor). Only Will Bapaga kept his place from the cup side, getting the nod over Erico Sousa, who dropped to the bench.

A big crowd greeted the Mariners on to the pitch, but the away side made it difficult for Town to find their rhythm, and Yeovil threatened with a number of early set-pieces.

It was the Mariners who drew first blood though, in a familiar route, Bapaga winning a penalty with his pace after the Yeovil keeper upended him. The much-criticised John-Lewis, who scored one and missed one penalty in the cup game, bravely took the spot-kick and made no mistake this time.

The first half had been largely a stalemate, but the second opened with a relative bang. Smith tipped a Clifton piledriver over the bar, then McAtee went close. At the other end, a Waterfall mistake let in Wakefield but the Town defender managed to get back to clear the cross for a corner.

John Lewis could have added a second but hit the side netting from a narrow angle after being played through. The Town striker then had a golden chance when Clifton played McAtee through on goal. McAtee beat the keeper and squared for John-Lewis for what looked like a tap in but the big striker lunged and failed to get a clean contact and the ball went wide.

The scoreline was precarious, although Yeovil didn't especially threaten Grimsby. With the away side pushing forward, the Mariners has openings on the break, but it was only in injury time that McAtee put the game behind doubt when Sousa created an opening which McAtee blasted past Smith.

Leaders Grimsby head to Wealdstone on Tuesday night looking to try and put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

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