Town Slay Dragons

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 31/12/2005

GLEN "Who" Downey was the unlikely hero for the Mariners, as Town once again came from behind to record an extraordinary win at Wrexham when everything seemed to have gone against them.

Justin Whittle was suffering from a groin strain, which meant a rare start for Simon Ramsden in the back four. Otherwise the side was the same as the one which had recorded maximum points at Christmas.

Wrexham immediately put Town under a lot of pressure in the first 20 minutes. Grimsby seemed to have weathered the worst of it and were coming back into the game more when Wrexham scored somewhat against the run of play from a Mark Jones header.

Rob Jones had been limping at the end of the first half with an ankle problem and was replaced at half time by Glen Downey. Things got worse for Town as their other central defender Simon Ramsden was carried off on a stretcher within a minute of the restart. Striker Gary Jones was forced to drop back as an emergency central defender. Without both their centre backs, and 1-0 down to a strong team, the writing looked on the wall for the Mariners.

But almost immediately Michael Reddy latched on to a ball from Cohen and rounded the 'keeper to silence the Racecourse Ground.

Town then had to withstand almost constant Wrexham pressure and a winner looked only a matter of time. Mark Jones went closest, hitting the post with Mildenhall beaten. On one of their rare attacks, a Tom Newey free kick was headed home by substitute Glen Downey, the man who has never started a game and rarely gets further than the bench.

With ten minutes to go Bolland was shown a red card for a second bookable offence, but the referee - after consulting the fourth official - realised that Bolland had never been booked and incensed the crowd by reducing Bolland's sending off to just a yellow card.

To make matters worse Wrexham's Williams was harshly sent off in the dying seconds after an altercation with Michael Reddy earned him a second booking. Town's striker also received a yellow card.

Shortly after the full time whistle blew Steve Mildenhall was attacked by an angry Wrexham fan.

It was an remarkable three points for the Mariners, which consolidates their position in the top three.

Russell Slade will have his work cut out trying to name 16 players for Monday's match at home to Carlisle, after which Town thankfully have almost a two week break.

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