Macca Says Farewell

By: Robert Salt
Date: 29/04/2007

VETERAN defender John McDermott today played his last home game at right back for Grimsby Town at home to local rivals Lincoln City. Macca has played over 20 seasons for the Mariners and his boots will surely be hard to fill.

Grimsby Town lined up with the same staring eleven as that which performed so well against Barnet last week. The only change was Gary Harkins replaced the injured Paul Bolland in midfield.

Lincoln City lined up with ex-Town players Jamie Forrester and Junior Mendes, who is on loan from Notts County. City, who needed a win to help get a play off place, were supported well with approx 2000 fans making the short trip on a sunny afternoon at Blundell Park.

Lincoln started the better and seemed intent on giving Town a match and to try and take the three points home. However despite a couple of long range efforts and a fine save from Barnes they were not really causing a threat. Town began to take control and Danny North was a constant threat all game to the City defence. The game was mostly played and battled in midfield with both teams struggling to create any chances, despite both teams knocking the ball around well.

The referee from the start would not allow the game to flow and was constantly blowing up for free kicks where most would have let the game go.

The second half began with Town dominating from the start and beginning to cause City some problems. Again Danny North was a constant threat and chances were coming his way. He rather snapped at a long range shot which the 'keeper almost let slip through his hands and after more good work from Town he opted to shoot rather than pass square to the unmarked Peter Till who would have had an almost empty goal.

Nick Fenton had a header saved on the line and Till headed back across the goal when an almost empty net went begging.

Town were by far the better of the two teams in the second half and overall deserved the win, however they just could not get that killer goal that would have secured the three points.

MOM - Macca, who else would we give it to !!

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