Groves on THAT capitulation at Brighton

By: Richard Lord
Date: 14/10/2003

PAUL Groves was understandably frustrated after seeing his side wilt away under five minutes of Brighton pressure in the 3-0 defeat at the Withdean Stadium on Saturday.

Following an impressive first half, Groves' men capitulated and surrendered the game in two minutes of madness early in the second half.

Groves felt that the game hinged on the pivotal moment when Boulding was pulled back in the Brighton area - before the home side took the lead 30 seconds later.

Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, Groves said: "The result was unbelievable. For an hour we were comfortable and we had probably played some of the best football we had played for a while and we created chances as well - but you have got to finish them off."

Of the penalty incident, Groves said: "Michael came inside in the box, he was on his right foot and he had got in a position to have a free shot on goal. I cannot see the point of him going down. He is not someone who dives on a regular basis - he had a chance to let one go.

"For him not to get a decision there is bewildering, and from that they have gone down the other end and scored a goal - a goal that everyone said was offside.

"That is the difference between decisions going for you and not, but Michael has come off and said he thought it was a good penalty shout.

"The difference was they didn't concede and we did when they had a bit of a spell in the second half."

Summer signing Jason Crowe felt the scoreline was harsh on the Mariners. He said: "Brighton didn't deserve a 3-0 scoreline, it definitely wasn't that sort of game. We were completely in the game and the better side before they went 1-0 up.

"We were very disappointed with the first goal, first of all it should have been a penalty to us and then they broke at the other end and scored, and it was offside.

"We should have got our heads up when we were 1-0 down but suddenly we were 2-0 down in the space of two minutes, so it is really hard to take, especially with a third at the end which was a real sickener."

Groves will now be preparing his players for the visit of Colchester United this Saturday, who have been in fine form just recently.

Grimsby Town have also introduced a 'two kids free' scheme for one full paying adult or season ticket holder for this weekend and the midweek Notts County game.

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