Town 2 Accrington 0

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 25/11/2006

GRIMSBY returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Accrington Stanley and the finest display yet of passing football since the return of Alan Buckley. The new Town boss decided to start will all three of his loan signings, and the decision paid off with Martin Patterson netting the opener.

Town started the game brightly and it was no surprise when they took the lead after just 12 minutes. A dangerous cross into the Accrington box bounced to new signing Martin Patterson who had a simple tap-in for the opener.

Wave after wave of Town attacks had the Mariners' faithful purring with delight and Town's new signings were at the heart of everything. Till looked dangerous on the right wing, was willing to take on players and cross the ball, and new striker Martin Patterson looked hungry for the ball, fast and very threatening.

Accrington were no push-overs, however, and had an equaliser ruled out when a shot ricocheted off the post and bounced out to an onrushing player who put the ball in the net, only for the linesman to raise his offside flag. It was a doubly fortunate let off for Town.

Town continued to create chances with Patterson and Jones linking well up front, and both players went close. But it was the whole team's passing and movement that contributed to a display that was a revelation compared to recent showings at home, and received warm applause at the end of the first 45 mins.

After the break Town kept pressing forward for a second goal and Gary Jones duly delivered. Another brilliant piece of play from Till saw the ball end up with Gary Jones in the box, and the big striker sublimely curved the ball past the 'keeper with the outside of his left foot to double Town's advantage.

With Town having a two goal cushion, inevitably Accrington came into the game a little more, and Town's goal was threatened on a few occasions by the visitors. But the Mariners' defence was generally fairly solid, although Accrington had a couple of cross-shots which whizzed across the face of the goal.

Nonetheless Grimsby continued to play their fast passing game and create chances right through to the final whistle. In the end Town ended up deserved winners, with a clean sheet to show as well as three points for their afternoon's work.

Every single player played well, but Martin Patterson was a revelation alongside Gary Jones up front and wins Man of the Match. He gave everything, played the game with smile on his face, and scored a vital goal. Jones himself looked a vastly superior player than he has done for most of his time at Blundell Park, and Tom Newey also looked a cut above the player he has been under Rodger and even Slade. Till looked especially good in the first half, and Pulis weighed in with a decent performance in the centre of the park.

It's difficult to predict how far and how quickly Alan Buckley can take the Mariners this season, but things are looking very promising, and the quality of the football witnessed this afternoon by the Mariners has only been glimpsed on a handful of occasions over the last six years since Buckley was last here. Now we have the prospect of it every home game! Most importantly of all it was good once again to look around the ground and see a broad smile on the face of every Mariner, something that has been sadly lacking for too long. League Table

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