Town Win Again

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 30/01/2008

GRIMSBY continued their unbeaten run in 2008, but once again had to rely on a large slice of luck to beat their opponents. Bury dominated most of the game at Blundell Park last night, and Town did not play well. A superb strike by Jamie Clarke on 40 minutes was their one sublime moment and ultimately won the game.

Bury had a string of good chances in the first half and only some poor finishing from the Shakers plus some superb goalkeeping by Phil Barnes denied the struggling League Two side. Barnes saved with his legs from Baker before Town's goal and likewise blocked an effort by Bishop in first-half added time.

In between - completely against the run of play - following a throw-in and some neat interplay by Clarke and Hegarty, Clarke picked up the ball, cut inside from the edge of the penalty area, and blasted the ball goalwards. The keeper was rooted on his spot as the ball curled round him and went in off his far post from 25 yards.

Town's only other effort of note in the first 45 minutes was a ball play into the box by North at the feet of the onrushing Hunt. Unfortunately Hunt, who is not renowned for his goalscoring, could only direct a tame shot too close to the 'keeper

The second half was a similar story, with Bury having the lion's share of chances. Substitute Simon Yeo had a number of opportunities to equalise, and Adams missed a golden opportunity to grab a point in injury time, his looping header going just wide.

Grimsby's unbeaten run has now extended to eight games, and they are still undefeated in 2008. They now stand in the top half of the table, despite not having played well in many of their recent games.

Grimsby boss Alan Buckley conceded that Town had not deserved the three points. "We worked very hard but we did not play at all. On the night the better footballing side lost the game. Our goalkeeper kept us in it with two really good saves", said the Town manager, adding: "We didn't play well but we worked really hard. It's not very pleasing on the eye at the minute."

"We responded with a magnificent goal. Jamie is capable of strikes like that. It was a magnificent curling effort that gave the keeper no chance. A fabulous goal.

"The confidence should be sky-high with the sequence of results we've had. We have got the three points and when you set-out at 7.45pm it's a win that you want.

"But I would like to win playing good, open, passing football but that's not the case at the moment, though we have had a magnificent run of results."

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