Fleetwood Sink Town

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 20/02/2011 (Last updated: 17/01/2012)

GRIMSBY'S hopes of promotion are now hanging on a thread after Fleetwood beat the Mariners at Highbury to complete the double over Town. A goal down at half time, Grimsby were getting back into the game until Cummins was sent off midway through the second half for a two-footed challenge.

Fleetwood then sealed the victory with a second goal, and rubbed salt into the wound with a third in injury time. With Kidderminster winning away at Cambridge on Friday night it means Town have to gain 9 or 10 points on 2 different sides now to get into the final play-off place, although they still have gains in hand.

Town made three changes to the starting line-up. Peter Bore came in at right back, and Cummins and Makofu returned in midfield. They replaced Wood, Sinclair and Eagle none of whom made the bench,

After quiet start, Connell almost brought the game to life on 21 minutes. Hudson and Duffy combined well to set up Connell, but his attempted lob beat the 'keeper but went wide of the goal.

With chances few and far between and the sides cancelling one another out, it looked like being a forgettable first half. Then suddenly just before the break Fleetwood created a goal out of nothing. A low cross into the box was met on the near post by Vieira, who turned and backheeled the ball into the net.

Town had a great chance to equalise just after the break, but Coulson headed a Peter Bore cross wide from close range.

Good work by Coulson then set up Makofu who won a free kick just outside box on 53, but the chance came to nothing.

With Town in the ascendancy, they got a warning when Barry threaded the ball through to danger man Vieira, who turned and struck the top of bar.

With Town looking the better side their challenge took a huge blow when Cummins was red carded for a two footed challenge. Peacock came on in place of Makofu and then Watt replaced Hudson as Town went 3-3-3.

Sadly it was the gaps Town left at the back which made the difference. Seddon added a second, firing a shot in from the edge of the box after the ball rebounded out to him. Then Parker added a third, curling a shot in injury time.

Luck did not favour Town. They conceded a goal out of the blue, got a player sent off, and Fleetwood exploited Grimsby's attacking formation which they were forced to adopt after the sending off and having to chase the game. But the Mariners did not create enough chances to win the game, which is what they really needed to do,

Grimsby now have two home games against Forest Green and Wimbledon, both of which are must win matches.

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