Grimsby 4-0 Chesterfield

By: Richard Lord
Date: 21/09/2003

THE two Friday loan signings in Iffy Onoura and Nicky Daws proved to be the spark that Grimsby Town needed as they sent basement club Chesterfield crashing back to Derbyshire following a comprehensive 4-0 thumping.

Onoura replaced the injured Jonny Rowan up front and Daws stepped into midfield with Chris Bolder moving back down to the bench.

For the main part of the opening exchanges, the visitors gave as good as they got, without really testing Davison in goal.

Boulding had the Mariners first real opportunity but his effort appeared to clip off a defender and dribble agonisingly wide of the far post.

Cas then drifted in from the right and brought the ball into the area, before unleashing a shot that rebounded away off the post.

Stuart Campbell opened the scoring on 23 minutes when he struck home from the same position where Cas had missed.

There then followed a strange altercation between Barnard and Crane, with Simon Ford keeping the two furious players apart.

Cas had two more opportunities to double Town's lead but the Dutchman failed to capitalise - one when Hockless played a superb ball across the area but Muggleton did very well to block.

Ford went down injured and was replaced by Mike Edwards minutes before half time.

Town went into the break looking comfortable with their game, but the scoreline suggested that more work would have to be done in the second half in front of the Pontoon.

Campbell struggled to wriggle free from his adversary out wide on the left, and when Uhlenbeek rugby-tackled the Scotsman down, the Chesterfield defender barged the referee to earn a straight red card.

Fans will remember that the same player had been dismissed at Blundell Park two years ago when Town beat Sheffield United on penalties in the League Cup second round after a 3-3 draw.

Minutes later and Town had taken a 2-0 lead when a clearance was charged down and Boulding's shot was deflected into the path of Hockless. The youngster curled a delightful effort to double the lead.

Unfortunately for the Hull-born midfielder, the referee didn't take exception to his celebrations with the Pontoon crowd and he was promptly booked.

Town were playing some quick, flowing football, and chances came and went, as Cas and Hockless were rampant down the wings.

A third was added subsequent to a goalmouth scramble, which saw Cas eventually turn the ball in from close range.

Muggleton was called into saving from a McDermott left-footer (of all things) and with the home side growing in confidence - and making the use of the extra man - it was 4-0 soon after.

A corner appeared to have been cleared, until Cas hooked a volley back towards goal and Edwards diverted it past Muggleton to open his account for the club.

Crowe replaced Hockless, and moments before the 90 minutes were up, Mansaram replaced Boulding.

Town's top scorer had not added to his total of six for the season - and this was the first home game where Boulding had not scored.

If each chance was taken, and there were plenty of them, Town could have avenged the punishing defeat at Hartlepool just over a week ago.

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