Hats Off to Town

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/09/2010 (Last updated: 05/09/2010)

GRIMSBY won their second successive home game and rose to an impressive fourth in the league in the early evening televised clash with Luton. A first half penalty clinically dispatched by Connell gave Town the lead, before Cummins ensured the win with a bullet header in the second half.

Peter Bore and Lee Ridley gave Town a boost returning in the full back positions, and Sheff Wed 'keeper O'Donnell made his debut between the sticks. Youngster Bradley Wood showed his versatility starting on the left side of midfield, a long way from his natural right back role.

Luton put out a very international looking XV, with a new Kenyan international signing on the bench!

In the early part of game there was a lot of Luton pressure with Barnes-Horner causing no end of problems. The Hatters could have scored after just 5 minutes but grazed the cross bar with a shot from the edge of the box. Town finally got into the game on the twenty minute mark. Connell set up Ridley, and the 'keeper was forced to make a low save, but a minute later Town got the first break from the ensuing corner.

Luton defender Blackett handled the ball from Kempson's header. It was probably a soft penalty, as it struck it at close range, but his hands were raised, and so he clearly gained an advantage by handling it. Nobody would have batted an eyelid if it had been given outside the penalty box. By the letter of the law it was probably a penalty, but many refs would not have given it. Connell gave the 'keeper no chance from twelve yards.

Not much happened in the rest of the first half, but early in the second Town got their second break. Barnes-Horner skinned yet another Town player (it was Kempson's turn this time), but this time was himself clean through on goal. His shot had O'Donell beaten, but bounced back off the post and the danger was cleared.

On 68 minutes Wood was brought down in a promising position, and a disappointing free kick struck the wall and went for a corner. From the resulting corner though Cummins rose from the corner of the box with a bullet-like header past the stranded 'keeper.

Town coasted through the remaining 25 minutes of play and ended up being good value for their win.

It was a good team performance, with the defence solid, good passing and movement and in Connell Town seem to have a genuine goalscorer for the first time in years.

A full report will appear later.

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