Grimsby 2 Lincoln 4

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 22/01/2005

THE finishing power of Simon Yeo was the difference between the two sides today, as Grimsby were once again beaten at home, this time by local rivals Lincoln City. The 31-year-old striker, who only became a professional at the age of 28, took the match ball back to the cathedral city.

Russell Slade, as expected, made just one change. Ronnie Bull's suspension meant that Greg Young was asked to play out of position at left wing back. Thomas Pinault once again had to settle for a place on the bench, with veteran Stacy Coldicott getting the nod against a physical Lincoln side.

The Imps, who were inevitably going to be strongest from set pieces, had two chances in the first half and scored from both. The first goal was route once personified: a long free kick was flicked on into the path of Yeo, who smashed the ball superbly goalwards from a narrow angle.

Their second came from a corner, conceded due to a mistake by Simon Ramsden, a tap-in for Yeo after a melee in the penalty box.

Town created virtually no chances in a first half in which they played very poorly, a late shot by Young which produced a save being the closest they came to scoring.

This week Russell Slade delivered the rousing version of his half time speech, and brought on Pinault in place of Young for the second half. And for the first 15 minutes of the second half Town were electric! The first goal came from Pinault himself, set up by Reddy after the Frenchman had been on the pitch for just 5 minutes.

Then Town were level through the unlikely figure of Stacy Colidicott, who scored with a low shot from a corner.

The jubilation lasted about 30 seconds. Straight from the kick off, Lincoln played the ball up to Yeo. The Town defence stayed still, expecting the former Hyde Utd man to be given offside, but he wasn't and put the Imps noses in front again.

The Mariners huffed and puffed, and went close to grabbing an equaliser on several occasions. But the game was killed off when Town failed to clear a ball in their own box. It ended with Toner, who slammed it home to give Grimsby no chance of coming back from 4-2.

A full report will appear later.

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