Wednesday 0-0 Grimsby

By: Richard Lord
Date: 27/09/2003

Despite an impressive start to the game, Grimsby could only manage a 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this afternoon in front of a 20,000-plus crowd.

Graham Hockless was dropped from the side in favour of Des Hamilton, with Campbell reverting to left midfield.

Once more Town chose not to include a goalkeeper on their bench, with the most noticeable inclusion being Phil Jevons.

There were three former Blades players starting for the Mariners in the shape of Boulding Cas and Onoura, with the latter being on loan.

The visitors made a fantastic start to the game when one attack followed another. Onoura saw his header flash wide of the post, and Boulding delayed in the box allowing the Wednesday defence to get back and clear.

Hamshaw replaced Beswetherick in what was a tactical substitution after Cas had been given the freedom of the pitch down Town's right.

Pressman required treatment after holding a Campbell strike and then had to be replaced by 40-year old Eric Nixon minutes later.

The turning point of the first half came when Cas and Nixon collided in the area, with the Dutchman leaving the field on a stretcher.

Hockless was introduced to the midfield on the left with Campbell switching to the right.

The home side were edging their way back into the game, and former Mariner Cooke saw his effort drift wide of Davison's post.

Tony Crane, playing against his former team-mates for the first time, made a brave challenge as the last man, deflecting the ball away enough to escape punishment.

Proudlock forced Davison into make a fantastic stop when it looked like the former Wolver player was going to open the scoring.

No substitutions were made at half time, although the Owls were clearly swapping personnel about in the back four to cope with Town's game plan.

The best chance of the game fell to Boulding when he was put through on goal and the offside flag stayed down.

After carrying the ball into the area, Nixon made a great save to deny Quick Mick his seventh goal of the season.

Hamilton did well to evade two challenges on the edge of the Owls' box but the ball eventually rolled out for a goal kick.

Following a Cooke corner, Wednesday rattled the bar with the Town defence managing to clear to safety.

The visitors enjoyed more possession but their lack of clinical finishing was beginning to tell.

The Mariners had the chances early in the game to pick up the points but the two sides ended cancelling each other out.

Minutes before Lloyd Owusu was introduced to the game, Crane appeared to poleaxe Proudlock, with the defender receiving a yellow card.

Wednesday looked the more likely team to snatch a winner but Crane made a strong finish to the game.

Hockless made a tremendous surge forward but the youngster was crowded out on the edge of the Wednesday area.

The match petered out to a disappointing 0-0 draw, damaging both sides' aspirations of moving up the table.

However, it signalled Town's first clean sheet away from home - in their very next away match following the 8-1 debacle at Hartlepool.

It was also the third successive 0-0 draw between the two sides at Hillsborough.

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