Grimsby Town vs Luton Town FC (25th Mar 2014)

Hatters record crucial away victory

Grimsby 1 Neilson 18 Town 2 Robinson 21, Benson 60

The Hatters produced yet another superb away victory as they came from a goal down to beat Grimsby to go 17 points clear at the top of the table.

Trailing to Scott Neilson’s opening goal on 18 minutes the Town stormed back to take all three points at Blundell Park thanks to goals from Matt Robinson and Paul Benson to put them within touching distance of promotion at a ground.

It was a fine performance in the face of a spirited display from Play-Off chasing Grimsby with Mark Tyler and the Town defence standing firm in the closing stages.

The Town began showing two changes to the side that beat Chester on Saturday with Robinson and Cameron McGeehan starting in central midfield.

Grimsby, hunting a Play-Off place, started the brighter. A succession of corners inside the opening 10 minutes were dealt with well by the Town defence with Mark Tyler denying Lenell John-Lewis’ tame effort on nine minutes.

The Mariners came close to taking the lead on 16 minutes when Craig Disley’s header was cleared off the line with the Hatters struggling to deal with the amount of crosses pinged into the penalty area, especially from the right flank. From that chance, John-Lewis poked wide with the goal gaping at the back post.

However, the Town weren’t so lucky two minutes later. Another ball high into the box from the right was missed by Tyler’s attempted punch. The ball bounced square to Neilson and the former Town winger rifled home from 12 yards to give the hosts the lead.

But the Hatters are made of strong stuff these days and three minutes later they were level. Pelly Ruddock found Alex Lawless down the right and his cross found Paul Benson. The striker teed up Robinson and he coolly slotted home his second goal in as many games. There was no fluke about this one, either.

Level and with their tails up, the Town went in search of a second goal. An excellent passing move involving Robinson and Pelly Ruddock almost engineered an opportunity for Andre Gray on 32 minutes before a left-wing cross from Lawless four minutes later flashed dangerously across the Grimsby goalmouth.

The Hatters continued to impress going forward and Gray was unlucky not to do better on 38 minutes when McGeehan’s long ball over the top found the striker. However, his first touch wasn’t the greatest but as the home defence converged on the forward, he still managed to get a shot away that drifted wide.

But the Town were unlucky not to take the lead on 42 minutes following another move of real quality. Lawless’ cross from the right was nodded square by Benson into Robinson’s path 12 yards out but the midfielder’s header was saved superbly by home stopper James McKeown.

As half-time approached it was the Mariners that upped the ante. A succession of corners kept the Town pinned back in their own penalty area, and the Hatters had a stunning reaction save by Tyler to keep out a back-post header from Craig Disley two minutes into first-half stoppage time.

The second half was a slow burner, with little chances of note in the first 10 minutes after the restart and in truth Grimsby were beginning to get on top. However, the Hatters had other ideas and took the lead for the first time on the hour. Sam Hatton’s piledriver was charged down by Griffiths and the Town broke with Ruddock. The ball eventually broke back to the Town left-back and his low shot came back off the post and gleefully into Benson’s lap and he tucked home his 18th goal of the season.

The hosts were rocked by that goal and the Town sensed a third but neither Benson or Gray could find the final ball with Grimsby were up the field chasing an equaliser.

Neilson curled over for the Mariners as they continue to search for that leveller but Lawless tested McKeown on 69 minutes with a snap-shot from the edge of the box. As the game swung from end-to-end, Tyler produce an acrobatic save 30 seconds later on 70 minutes when keeping out Connor Jenning’s swirling drive which seemed destined for the top corner.

As Grimsby pushed forward the Hatters were looking a big threat on the break and Ruddock thought he was fouled on 72 minutes when springing clear of the home defence before being clattered by the on-rushing McKeown.

With 13 minutes left Gray spurned a glorious chance to make the game safe when firing a shot into the side-netting from 10 yards having been found by Ruddock’s pass.

The hosts continued to push for an equaliser in the final moments, including four added minutes, as the game swung from end-to-end. Grimsby failed to test Tyler despite a number of high balls into the box and in the end the Hatters celebrated a famous and crucial victory.

Town: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Franks; Ruddock, McGeehan, Robinson; Lawless, Gray, Benson.

Subs not used: Charles, Shaw, Cullen, Rooney, Justham.

Attendance: 3,789, including 410 backing the Hatters – superb for a Tuesday night in Cleethorpes.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/grimsby-gallery-250314-1444668.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO9zh0I2gzU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnc4HK_60-s

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157642969160683/

Benson grabs winner as Town defeat Mariners

Skrill Premier: Grimsby Town 1 Luton Town 2

A brilliant counter-attacking display from Luton saw them claim a rare away win at Grimsby Town tonight, writes Mark Wood.

It was only Town’s seventh win in 26 visits to Blundell Park as they stretched their lead at the top of the Skrill Premier over Cambridge United to 17 points.

Hatters made two changes from the team that beat Chester 3-0 on Saturday, as Matt Robinson and Cameron McGeehan returned while Jake Howells and Andy Parry dropped out of the squad.

The hosts created the early pressure as from a corner on 16 minutes Craig Disley’s header was half-cleared and Lenell John-Lewis poked wide.

The Mariners did take the lead on 18 minutes when Mark Tyler failed to connect with a punch from a cross and ex-Hatter Scott Neilson fired home.

Town’s response was immediate though as they levelled three minutes later.

Andre Gray’s backheel released Alex Lawless who found Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

His ball into the box caused consternation as Robinson found Paul Benson, who teed up the midfielder to fire home his second goal in two games.

Robinson was booked on 34 minutes though when he caught Shaun Pearson.

McGeehan’s brilliant raking pass released Gray, but his first touch let him down before dragging wide.

Luton were desperately unlucky not to snatch the lead three minutes before the break when Lawless’ deep cross was superbly cushioned back in by Benson and Robinson’s header was brilliantly saved by James McKeown.

In stoppage time Steve McNulty put in a great last-gasp tackle to deny Connor Jennings before Neilson’s cross found Disley and his powerful header was somehow beaten away by Tyler.

After the interval, Griffiths produced a great block to keep out Sam Hatton’s drive before powering upfield to support a Luton break on the hour.

Busting a gut to reach a loose ball his 20-yard daisycutter beat McKeown as it rebounded off the far post for the predatory Benson to net.

Jennings’ deflected effort forced a fine full-stretch save from Tyler before controversy erupted with 19 minutes to go.

Robinson’s pass found Gray and his lob saw Mpanzu race clean through.

With just McKeown to beat he lifted it over the keeper who brought him down with the ball running towards the net.

Amazingly nothing was given as the linesman lowered his flag after initially seeming to indicate a foul as McKeown outrageously escaped and a defender cleared.

Hatters wasted another gilt-edged chance with 13 minutes to go when Mpanzu threaded Gray clean through but he thundered wide.

Grimsby bombarded the box in the closing stages as Luton continued to play on the break.

Robinson’s low cross was fumbled but Benson just couldn’t profit, while another counter saw Gray’s audacious 40-yard chip dip just over as Town held on to claim a fantastic win and close in on promotion.

Mariners (4-4-2): James McKeown, Sam Hatton, Aswad Thomas, Scott Kerr, Shaun Pearson, Craig Disley (C), Scott Neilson, Lenell John-Lewis (Oumare Tounkara 70), Alex Rodman (Ross Hannah 82), Connor Jennings, Andrew Boyce.

Substitutes not used: Andi Thanoj, Paddy McLoughlin, Jamal Fyfield.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty, Alex Lawless, Scott Griffiths, Cameron McGeehan, Matt Robinson, Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson, Andre Gray, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Substitutes not used: Anthony Charles, Jon Shaw, Mark Cullen, Luke Rooney, Elliot Justham.

Booked: Robinson 34.

Referee: R Joyce Assistant Referees: G Mellor and S Campbell Fourth Official: S Wade.

Attendance: 3,789 (Luton 410).

Star Hatter: Scott Griffiths. Lung-busting run for the goal epitomised the full-back and the Hatters.