Gillingham 3-0 Grimsby

By: Richard Lord
Date: 15/02/2003

A thoroughly disappointing performance from Grimsby Town ensured they were well and truly stuck in the bottom four of the division when they were comprehensively beaten by Gillingham this afternoon at the Priestfield Stadium.

Three goals in the first half settled the issue and Groves must now pick his players up in time for next week's daunting trip to in-form Ipswich Town.

Player of the Month Stacy Coldicott was drafted into the side in place of the injured Alan Pouton with the rest of the team the same that started against Stoke City last week.

The opening goal arrived after five minutes and it was the former Leeds and Rangers striker Rod Wallace who netted following poor defending from the visitors.

A run down the left went unchallenged and the experienced striker dispatched the resulting cross comfortably.

Town's player/manager Groves replied almost instantly but his terrific thirty-yard effort was tipped over the bar for a corner.

Gillingham's second chance of the match also ended up in the back of the Mariners' net when Town's defence was undone with simplicity.

The back four of McDermott, Ford, Santos and Gallimore were holding a high line and a through-ball caught them all out leaving Ipoua and Wallace a free run on goal.

It was the former Scunthorpe man that looped the ball over Coyne to make it 2-0 and put the home side firmly in control.

Grimsby never looked like creating an opportunity for their two goalscoring heroes of last week, and Coldicott was booked after half an hour.

The third goal that effectively killed the game arrived in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Gills captain Chris Hope headed a simple free kick home and that finished the contest.

The second half was uneventful and only fleeting moments from the boot of McDermott gave the visiting fans any excitement.

At the other end Ipoua could have added to his first half strike but a combination of Coyne and Santos prevented the scoreline becoming any more embarrassing.

The final whistle couldn't have come sooner for the dejected Town side that now have the simple task of getting a result at Ipswich next Saturday.

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