Donno Draw Drama

By: Richard Lord
Date: 20/01/2001

Lennie Lawrence's attempt to resurrect Grimsby's season was helped by the Stockport defence when Donovan grabbed a last-minute equaliser this afternoon as The Mariners and The Hatters shared the points at Edgeley Park.

Grimsby were left to rue missed chances once Clark's cross was headed home by Finnish international Jakko Wiss on 8 minutes. The Mariners were on the back foot and faced an up-hill task, failing to make an impression on the game in the first half, although their performance was much improved in the second half of the game.

In the very first minute Livingstone created a chance for on-loan Leicester midfielder Stuart Campbell, but from 5 yards he somehow managed to guide his shot well wide of the goal.

An early injury to Butterfield forced Lawrence to re-shuffle his side with David Smith coming into midfield and Coldicott retreating to right back. County proceeded to create openings before half time, and should have gone 2-0 up but for some poor finishing and good saves by Danny Coyne.

Grimsby did manage to sustain some pressure on the home side in the second half but failed to make it count as Town continued to miss the target from all angles.

Donovan, Burnett and Livingstone were all guilty of failing to test Jones in the Stockport goal, and Jeffrey eventually entered the game with Campbell being taken off.

Town worked hard all afternoon, especially in the second half when Coyne became a spectator. Grimsby enjoyed plenty of possession but just couldn't produce the equaliser which they were all working so hard for. Donovan's work ethic and creativity in midfield was the only real source where a Grimsby equaliser was going to come from, and it duely arrived in the second minute of injury time. Fostervold's ball through was headed on by Smith and there was a mix-up in the Stockport defence and Donovan poked the ball home to give Grimsby a deserved point.

Stockport were made to defend for most of the second half and had very few chances to add to their early goal. It may not have been a victory, but it at least stops the rot and the manner in which the Mariners got the goal, it did seem as though it was worth a win.

The Mariner's boss earlier in the season predicted that it would be the games against other teams around Grimsby in the league that would shape the rest of the season. With the Mariners failing to win against Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe and Stockport twice, it now means that they have to look at the more daunting prospects of games away at Bolton and home to Wimbledon where they need to pick up those extra points.

Coyne - Butterfield (D Smith, 18) , Fostervold, Groves, Enhua - Coldicott, Burnett, Willems, Campbell (Jeffrey 68) - Donovan - Livingstone.

Subs: (unused): Croudson, Handyside, R Smith.

Bookings: Coldicott, Livingstone, Willems

Jones, Flynn, Clark, Cooper, Gibb, Wiss, Fradin (Nicholson, 60), Wilbraham, Smith, Matthews (Maxwell, 68), Grayson

Subs: (unused): Dibble, Carrigan, Clare.

Bookings: Cooper

Referee: P R Richards (Preston)

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