Macclesfield Break the Spell

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 29/12/2013

GRIMSBY'S fourteen match unbeaten run finally came to an end with a home defeat by Macclesfield. Losing 2-0 at half time, the Mariners levelled the match with two quick goals early in the second half. But a stunning free kick by Danny Andrew won the game for the visitors with six minutes to go.

Paul Hurst made three changes from the side which won at Lincoln. One was enforced - injured midfielder Scott Kerr was replaced by Patrick McLaughlin. Meanwhile Joe Colbeck was preferred to Scott Neilson and Andy Cook replaced Lennell John-Lewis, with Neilson and John-Lewis both starting on the bench.

Town started poorly and gifted a goal to Macclesfield. Mackreth was allowed two chances to cross the ball into the box, the second going to Boden who made no mistake from close range. A few minutes later Holroyd was allowed the time and space to pick his spot, curling the ball round McKeown and into the bottom corner.

Macclesfield , orchestrated by Dan Whittaker, had been the better side in the first half, but Town came back into the match early in the second half with two quick goals. A Town corner was cleared to McLaughlin, who fired by the ball back into the box, and it was deflected in off a defender's legs.

Very soon the scores were level when Town scored from the third of a trio of corners. McLaughlin was once again the provider, putting the ball onto Doig's head, who rose for the equaliser.

With Town pressing for a winner, Andy Cook looked like he had ruined things with a clumsy challenge on Holroyd. But James McKeown dived low to his left to catch the ball at the second attempt. Surely now Town would go on and win?

But Town lost their momentum following a spate of substitutions by both sides, and it looked like they would have to settle for a point. But Thomas gave away a free kick and Andrew fired it into the top corner past McKeown.

There were five minutes of injury time but Grimsby could not muster another equaliser.

Grimsby gave themselves a mountain to climb with two soft goals conceded in the early half. Having done the hard work they then fell to a sucker punch although no 'keeper would have saved that free kick. Scott Kerr, often Town's playmaker, was missed in midfield, and it is to be hoped he will be back for the return match with Lincoln.

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