Town close gap at top of Lincs League

Grimsby Borough Reserves 0

Gainsborough Town 2

TOWN closed the gap on the two leading teams with a hard fought win over Grimsby Borough Reserves.

Gainsborough went into the game with a 10-match winning streak, but were without the influential Lee Hutchinson, Ashley Holland and Geno Robinson.

James Dickinson made his first start, replacing Craig Lill who dropped to right midfield in place of Hutchinson, and Liam Andrews returned in goal.

It was something new for the Town lads as it was there first ever game on a 3G pitch.

Grimsby started the half brightly and were unfortunate not to take the lead when a ball was crossed in but keeper Andrews was adjudged to have been fouled by the Borough striker.

Two minutes later Town were again let off the hook when the Borough left midfielder put in a cross which hit Josh Nichol on the arm and the ref played on.

Town were not having the best of days and only really had one chance in the first half, when Lee Bognar collected the ball, cut inside two defenders in the box and was about to strike until a fantastic last ditch tackle by the Borough defender halted him.

Greg Andrews brought out the best in the keeper as his 25 yard free kick was tipped onto the bar.

In the second half Town started better with Lill moving up front, Dickinson moving to the right and the impressive Andrews behind the front two.

Craig Mettam and Steve Hutchinson had an excellent work rate in the centre of midfield.

Town were given the chance to take the lead when Lill got to the byline and crossed, and Lee Bognar was adjudged to have been pushed by the Borough defender.

The usually reliable Hutchinson stepped up but blazed over the bar.

The turning point came when a Borough midfielder put in a two-footed tackle on Steve Hutchinson in what was a 50-50 challenge but the referee showed a straight red.

It wasn’t long before Town took the lead, Andrews darting into the box and setting up Lill for a tap in.

Dean Szendrey then cleverly played the ball in to Lill and he turned the defender and found the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Bognar had the chance to make it 3-0 when he beat two defenders after some excellent work by Jamie Shaw but his effort hit the post.

Grimsby Borough would have pulled a goal back had Liam Andrews not made a fantastic save to keep a third clean sheet in four games with the excellent back three of Page, Nichol and Locking.

Town host Heckington on 22nd.