Grand Spoils Opening Day

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 12/08/2012

GRIMSBY had to settle for a point against Southport, but it looked like it could have been much more when Craig Disley gave Town a deserved lead in the 74th minute. However Town went on the back foot after taking the lead, and former Mariner Simon Grand headed in an equaliser from close range to deny Grimsby all 3 points with 4 minutes to go.

The Grimsby managers made a couple of controversial selections for the opening game. Experienced centre back Miller was left on the bench, and forward Anthony Elding sat alongside him despite Hearn's absence with a calf injury.

Grimsby had had the better chances of a scrappy game, Cook had gone close for Town in the first half, and was denied in the second when he raced through on goal, but the ball was cleared before he had a chance to shoot.

A good cross by Thomas saw a Cook effort cleared off the line. Moments later Pearson found himself through on goal but the ball was cleared for a corner. From the resulting corner the substitute Elding flashed a header wide, which he should have got on target,

With what chances there were going to Town it was no more than Grimsby deserved when they took the lead. An excellent cross by Thomas was flicked on by Elding and Disley fired the ball into the net in front of 750 travelling Mariners.

With 15 minutes left on the clock it was a backs to the wall job for Town's defence who had otherwise stood strong. However a lapse in concentration by Bradley Wood gave Southport a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box close to the goal line. The spot kick by Whalley picked out the unmarked Grand who headed the ball in the net from close range for what was Southport's only notable effort on goal in the whole game.

Before the match a point would not have looked a bad result, but in was definitely 2 points lost the way the match panned out.

Town: McKeown, Thomas, Pearson, Disley, Niven, Colbeck, Artus, Cook, Pearson, Wood, Pond.

Subs: Elding, Miller, Thanoj, Soares, Hatton.

Southport: McMillan, Smith, Lever, Akrigg, Parry, Grand, Whalley, Moogan, Bakare, Gray, Benjamin.

Subs: Lynch, Nemes, Almond, Chalmers, Ledsham.

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