Grimsby Town 0 - 0 Nuneaton

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

MATCH REPORT: GRIMSBY TOWN O NUNEATON TOWN 0



THE clouds have lifted over the James Parnell Stadium as the Boro pulled off an unlikely draw away at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.

Bookmakers had made Brian Reid’s Boro team one of the favourites for relegation before the season started – a fact many quoted as justified as Nuneaton slipped to a 3-0 home defeat on the opening day of the season.

But, in 90 minutes on Tuesday night, the Boro showed the kind of fight and desire that has made the club such a success after their rebirth as Town – as they came away from the pre-season favourites for promotion with a well earned point.

It was a point that Nuneaton could have turned into three in the second half also, but Adam Walker saw his effort ruled out for off-side.

Grimsby started the game the better in the first half, but the Boro grew into the challenge.

The home side had the first chances as Lennell John-Lewis saw his effort well saved by Reice Charles-Cook – the Boro keeper getting up quickly to deny Alan Connell straight after.

The quick-fire double effort was the start of a series of half chances for Grimsby, but the Boro were never realistically tested.

The first chance for the visitors came in the 16th minute when Andy Brown saw his effort saved by James McKeown.

It seemed to give Boro hope as less than two minutes later former Celtic man Ben Hutchinson headed just wide – before the same man brought a smart save out of McKeown.

This was not a game of many chances, though, as the first half turned into a midfield battle. Neither defence was being toughly tested.

That was until just before the break when Charles-Cook had to show his very best to dive full-length and stop a Craig Clay header from creeping in just inside the far post.

Reid would have been hoping for more of the same from his side in the second half – and he was not to be disappointed.

Jack Dyer gave the Boro their first half-chance, but his effort from distance curled over the bar.

Andy Brown saw his effort just before the hour mark follow the same path.

The Mariners, who were being well marshalled by the resolute Boro backline, did find the occasional opening, as well though, but John-Lewis could not make the most of it, firing wide when left unmarked in a central position.

Toto Nsiala fared little better with his effort late-on, the Grimsby man seeing his header deflected onto the bar, though, as the Boro hung-on.

Despite a couple of late chances for the home side, Nuneaton stood firm – putting the defensive disaster from Saturday well out of their systems with a well earned clean sheet at Bludnell Park.

It may not have got the win that Brian Reid wanted – but it went a long way to showing the doubters that the Boro will not be a team to be messed with this season.