Grimsby Town 2 Preston 2

By: Richard Lord
Date: 25/08/2001

GRIMSBY TOWN drew 2-2 with Preston this afternoon in an entertaining match at Blundell Park. Jonathan Rowan opened the scoring in the first half, but the Lillywhites fought back to take the lead. Pouton scored again from the penalty spot to equalise for Town.

The match started slowly, but soon gained pace as chances began to emerge at both ends. Preston strikers Macken and Healy were a handful for Groves and Beharall all afternoon, and Healy was the scorer early in the first half to give Preston the lead.

It looked as though Preston had the eminence to keep their lead, but they take just the one point back to Deep Dale after the referee gave a penalty to the Mariners after consulting his assistant.

In the last 20 minutes chances were still being created but neither side managed to find the back of the net, although Grimsby were lucky not to lose it after seeing a shot rebound off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of keeper Danny Coyne.

Beharall returned to the starting eleven for today's Division One clash, and Rowan partnered Jevons up front. Other than that it was the same side that started in midweek against Lincoln.

The main talking point of the match will doubtless be the penalty decision. Burnett's shirt-pulling protest forced the referee to consult with the linesman, and eventually he pointed to the spot. Several Preston players contested the verdict but Pouton kept his nerve to slot the ball past Lucas in the Preston goal.

Gallimore was taken off at half time with an injury, so Butterfield retreated to left-back, and Burnett entered the fray for the second half in midfield. With his introduction the Mariners kept the ball and were able to play a more free-passing style of play.

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore (Burnett, 45), Pouton, Groves, Beharall, Butterfield, Willems, Campbell, Rowan (Jeffrey, 88), Jevons

Subs not used: Chapman, Ermes, Ford,

Bookings: None

Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Murdock, Barry-Murphy, Cartwright, Keane (Rankine, 87), Gregan, Healy, Gallacher (Anderson, 64), Macken (Cresswell, 88)

Subs not used: Moilanen, Jackson

Bookings: Murdock (17), Gregan (38), Barry-Murphy (53), Lucketti (77)

Attendance: 5,789

Referee: Richard Beeby (Northampton)

Match Stats
1st Division Table

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