Town 5 Bury 1

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 15/08/2004

A vintage second half performance by the Mariners saw them record their first win of the season with an emphatic 5-1 demolition of hitherto unbeaten Bury at Blundell Park. The pattern of the game was very similar to Boston on Tuesday, except this time the Town goals went in.

New signing Dean Gordon was the only change from the team which drew with Boston, coming in on the left side of defence in place of Greg Young.

Town fell behind in the first meaningful action of the first half. A long throw-in by arch-villain Dave Challinor fell to Barry-Murphy, who slotted in a sitter from about 2 feet out. So for the third time this season Town fell one goal behind.

The Mariners did not take long to level things. Darren Mansaram answered his critics in the best possible way on 19 minutes with a well-taken goal, after being put through on his favoured left hand side.

The rest of the first half was largely disappointing, although Town had the majority of possession, but the lack of a quality final ball meant most of their moves came to nothing. A good save from both 'keepers were the best of the chances before the break.

After the half time cup of tea it was all Town virtually from the first kick to the last. The target of the boo-boys Challinor tripped Andy Parkinson in the box in the first minute for a penalty to Town. Up stepped Parkinson to take the spot kick, hitting the ball low to the 'keepers left at the perfect height for Glyn Garner to save it.

Within a minute Town had a second penalty with the unfortunate Dave Challinor once again the villain, this time for a handball inside the box. On this occasion Sestanovich took the penalty, hitting it to the 'keeper's other side, only to see Garner save it once again! The big striker, though, was the quickest to react and scored to the joy of the Pontoon end. Town were winning a game for the first time this season.

With Town leading 2-1 Russell Slade made a bold move by playing Town's trump card of Michael Reddy, and what a move it was! Within 2 minutes, Parkinson hit the woodwork, only for Pinault to score from the rebound. The Frenchman added a second within five minutes to round off a flowing move, and Reddy himself slotted home Town's fifth.

Town's front three were rampant, Pinault once again had a superb game in midfield. And Reddy's touches and class make him a certainty to start once he is fully match fit. The win was no more than Grimsby deserved from the first three games of the season, all of which they should have arguably won.

4,277 lucky people, most of them Grimbarian, were fortunate enough to watch once of the most comprehensive wins at Blundell Park in recent years. And with displays like today's one hopes the attendances can only go up.

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