Jingle Bells

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 26/12/2012

GRIMSBY repeated the triumph of last year at Sincil Bank, but by a more comfortable scoreline in 2012. After a slow start to the game, Town finally found their stride and were 2-0 up at half time. Lincoln got an early penalty after the break, but Grimsby ended up 2-1 winners in the end.

The victory was the more impressive since the Mariners had to shrug off the loss of two of their key attacking players. However the players that came in to replace them performed just as well against one of the division's in-form teams and Grimsby showed that they are a formidable side with the squad that still remains at Blundell Park.

1800 Town supporters packed the away stand at Sincil Bank, with a few more Mariners going undercover in the home areas of the ground.

Town made two changes from the side which beat Wrexham. Colbeck and Pearson replaced Neilson and Hannah respectively.

The opening half hour was very slow. In fact there was so many stoppages it resembled an American Football match!

Aswad Thomas was hacked down by Oliver on 7 minutes. It was a dangerous sliding tackle and he was lucky to get away with a yellow card.

Lincoln had the first chance of the game on 16 minutes. City broke quickly and Taylor pulled back the ball to Oliver who should have hit the target from close range but dragged his shot wide.

On 27 minutes Town were down to 10 men for what seemed forever when Pond was forced off with a head injury. He disappeared into the dressing room, presumably to receive emergency stitches, an eventually emerged with the score still goalless.

Town went 1-0 up when Lincoln's keeper Farman failed to hold onto a Colbeck cross and it came out to Cook who picked his spot past the 'keeper into the top of the net. The second goal soon followed, again with Colbeck playing a key role. The ball was played out to Town's right wing and Colbeck drilled the ball back straight to Boyce, who was unable to stop the ball being deflected into his own net.

Just before half time Lincoln hit the post. 2-0 probably slightly flattered Town at half time as there hadn't been much action in the half, but Lincoln, who had had two good chances, contributed to their own downfall with two mistakes.

Lincoln were soon back in the game early in the second half. City had a goal disallowed for a foul on McKeown then Cook was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area, and City scored from the spot.

Town almost immediately restored their 2-0 advantage. Disley was picked out by Marshall with a run from midfield. Disley went wide, and tried to pull the ball around Farman. The City 'keeper got a hand to the ball, but a scramble ensued, the ball crashed off the bar, and eventually Disley himself found the target.

Another Town attack led to a corner and Colbeck scored direct from the corner, looping the ball into the far post, with the flight of the ball completely deceiving Farman.

Town had the game won at 4-1 and defended comfortably for the rest of the match, bar City hitting the post in injury time. Pearson could have added a fifth when Farman again lost a cross, but could only find the side netting.

Lincoln will no doubt point to the defensive errors, and had they taken any of their early chances the result could have been very different, but once Town got the lead there looked only one likely winner. Everyone played well, but Disley was the pick of the Town players, bossing the midfield tirelessly and getting forward whenever he could.

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