Lincoln vs Grimsby : One to Remember
By Slevin Morgan
February 17 2010
Saturday's meeting between Lincoln and Grimsby will be the sixth time the teams have met at Blundell Park since the Mariners returned to this level in 2004. With only one victory for City during that time, there is an obvious choice for what most City fans would deem to be their favourite match at Blundell Park.
It was a rather chilly Saturday afternoon morning in January 2005 when the Imps played at Grimsby in the League for the first time in nearly 15 years. Despite being tipped as promotion favourites, Lincoln were only in ninth and were not playing at all well, it was also one of the few times that Boston Untied were ahead of us in the table. Grimsby on the other hand came into the division on the back of back-to-back relegations. They sat 14th but had a reasonable home record, only losing two of their fourteen home matches, but the Imps also had the joint best away record in the division, having picked up twenty points from their travels.
The derby started quietly with only a Grimsby corner threatening to open the scoring in the first 10 minutes but it was wasted. On the 13th minute, Martin Gritton (who would later go on to play for Lincoln) was caught offside was caught offside for the hosts, Marriott throttled the ball forward which Sandwith touched on before Yeo volleyed walloped the ball home from 6 yards to give the Imps a 1-0 lead. Within 2 minutes, it should have 2-0 when Imps' loanee Craig Westcarr couldn't connect properly with a shot and sent the ball wide from less than 6 yards out. 
Lincoln came under pressure but Grimsby failed to produce anything from 2 corners before City gained one of their own midway through the half. Sandwith took the corner which Gary Taylor-Fletcher managed to control the ball with with appeared to be his hand before crossing the ball, after missing almost everyone it fell to Yeo at the back post and he prodded the ball in the net with another close range effort to make it 2-0 to City.
It was almost 3 just seconds later when Taylor-Fletcher burst through on goal but his shot was blocked by Terrell Forbes after the defender managed to catch up. Grimsby's Terry Fleming fouled Taylor-Fletcher just minutes later but the free kick was wasted by Westcarr who just sent it well over everyone and out for a goalkick.
Grimsby won a few more corners but still didn't create anything and Grimsby's first shot in the 37th minute was easily collected by Marriott. Martin Gritton then wasted a chance when he cleared the stand from 6 yards out.
Grimsby came out for the second half very determined and after a null start to the half, they made it 2-1 5 minutes into the half when Reddy managed to cross beyond the defence to the back post where Pinault was waiting and it was game on all of a sudden. It was all Grimsby and they quickly gained yet more corners but both were cleared easily. However, another scramble followed and saw Coldicott smash in the ball from outside of the box after Pinault's cross although Marriott should have done better. Grimsby fans invaded the pitch after this goal.
It was 2-2 with half an hour to go and you get a feeling it wasn't over then and the scores stayed level for all of 62 seconds. As Grimsby fans were still celebrating, Taylor-Fletcher broke down the right before crossing for Yeo who's first time shot beat Williams and was the first hatrick by a City player in the league since 1997. There were match reports on some Grimsby sits which describe the fans taking their seat after celebration and sat down just in time to see Yeo's effort fly into the net.
Grimsby were deflated and you could tell, they just gave up, they weren't even running anymore. Then came a moment no-one was expecting, Taylor-Fletcher or Yeo ran into the box but was stopped by 3 Grimsby defenders, one of them cleared it straight to Toner on the edge of the area and the midfielder, linked with a move to Kidderminster in midweek scored his first goal to City and made it 4-2 to the Imps.
The game calmed down and the remaining 20 minutes were only full of half chances and no hopers and City made it 3 well earned points and moved back into the Playoff positions.
Lincoln would eventually made the Playoffs but lost out to Southend in the final. Grimsby would finish the season 18th and only won twice more at home after this. This game would also be the highpoint of Simon Yeo's career, sparking off the only decent scoring run he had in a Lincoln City shirt.
Four players who were involved in the match went on to play for the other team. Bloomer, Futcher and Toner ended up at Blundell Park, whereas Martin Gritton would join the Imps about a year later.
City have failed to score in open play at Grimsby since.
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In my opinion, both clubs aren't exactly playing "the best" football we have ever seen them play, so doubt it'll be a high scoring affair. Hopefully last nights win can give some confidence to the players, but many have never played in the Lincolnshire derby.
A massive game, but certainly not going to be a classic lol.
Will still be making the trip to support the mighty imps! See you all there!
Priory
