Grimsby Town 2 Mansfield 0

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 28/08/2004

A battling performance this afternoon saw Town beat Mansfield 2-0 at Blundell Park to secure three valuable points and keep their first League clean sheet of the season. Goals by Thomas Pinault at the start of the game, and Jason Crowe at the end were enough to see off the Stags.

Despite the injury worries ahead of the game, Russell Slade was able to name an unchanged starting XI, although Simon Ramsden played despite still suffering from a neck injury. Even Greg Young was fit enough to be able to make the bench.

Town started brightly and went ahead in only the fifth minute when a low shot by Pinault from a corner appeared to take a slight deflection before heading goalwards.

Mansfield gradually got into the game as the half developed, and top striker Colin Larkin failed to make the most of two opportunities that fell to him - the first was blocked by Williams, and the second went wide.

An ill-tempered first half saw three Mansfield players booked, and ended with an altercation centred upon Reddy and Artell after the whistle had blown, although the referee appeared to take no action.

In the second half Mansfield had a lot of possession but the better chances fell to Town. Shots by Reddy and Parkinson were both well-saved by Pilkington early in the second half. Greg Young also had a free header from a corner which he headed wide later on.

Ramsden finally made way for Greg Young on 55 mins as the pain got too much for the former Hull defender.

Finally Jason Crowe secured the win for Town with just four minutes on the clock. The former Pompey defender was set through by Parkinson in the box, with just the 'keeper to beat - and scored his first ever goal for the Mariners.

Town now have to turn their attention to the away game at Wycombe in just 2 days time. The Mariners have been desperately unlucky to lose both away games this season, in which they have also failed to score, but two good wins this week should give their confidence a boost and hopefully see Town break their away duck for the campaign.

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