Accrington 4 Grimsby 1

By: Richard Lord
Date: 08/09/2007

TOWN are still searching for their first league win of the season after they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Accrington Stanley at the Fraser Eagle Stadium this afternoon.

The Mariners have slipped into the bottom two on the back of this poor showing, and they are the only club alongside Notts County who have yet to register a win in League 2 this season.

Alan Buckley will be bitterly disappointed with the showing from his side after such a tremendous performance recorded an impressive 4-1 win over League 1 Huddersfield in midweek.

The manager somewhat surprisingly chose to go with the 4-5-1 formation from the start, which saw Isaiah Rankin as the lone striker and Bolland return in midfield. Mulligan continued at right back with Bennett on the bench.

The opening ten minutes of the game were largely uneventful although the home side began to make inroads when D’Sane and Mullin both had half chances to put Stanley in front, but they both shot wide.

Stanley’s Peter Cavanagh saw his excellent free kick tipped away by Barnes after the defender lifted his shot over the wall.

Bolland tried a speculative volley from the edge of the area after a clearance by Stanley, but his shot was just a little too powerful as it dipped over the bar.

With Town struggling to get forward and keep the ball up in the final third Buckley made a change by bringing on Andy Taylor for Danny Boshell and reverting to 4-4-2.

The change didn’t have its desired effect as Stanley were awarded a penalty just before the half hour when Newey grappled with his marker at the far post. The referee - who was the same official that gave Stanley a penalty and sent off Gary Croft in the same fixture last season - had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Andy Proctor slotted the penalty home with confidence, sending Barnes the wrong way.

Town didn’t do much to trouble the opposing keeper and they went in at the break 1-0 down.

Gary Jones was brought on to replace Rankin, who battled tirelessly but never got the better of the home defence.

Town began the second half brightly, with Jones keeping the play further up the field. Andy Taylor was a constant threat with his pace and direct runs, but Town shot themselves in the foot when they failed to deal with a ball through the middle.

Play was allowed to advance into the area and, from the left by-line, the ball was crossed back into the danger area and Mullin was on hand to head home and double Stanley’s lead.

But despite the set-back the Mariners continued to play much better, and after the introduction of Bore for Till they finally managed to grab a deserved goal.

Newey was released down the left and into the box, and his excellent cut-back from the line was headed home by Bolland.

The travelling fans sensed that Town had another goal in them, and there was a shout for a penalty when Taylor was pushed in the box but the striker kept his feet and the referee waved away the cries.

However, with Town pushing forward in search of the equaliser they were unconvincing in defence. Stanley scored their third when a quick corner routine wasn’t picked up on, and Harris’s shot was blocked into the path of Mullin, who slotted home to make it 3-1.

From then on the Mariners looked defeated, and despite the continued effort and bright play of Taylor, Town never really threatened until they went 4-1 down in injury time.

Richardson’s deep cross from the right was met by Andy Proctor at the far post, and with the game already into the first of five injury minutes the Mariners were dead and buried.

But Taylor still had time to drag a shot wide, Whittle nearly scored when Toner’s corner found its way into his lap from six yards out but the chance rolled away, and Bore shot wide from the edge of the area.

That was the last action of the game and it leaves Town joint bottom with Wrexham but having played a game extra.

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