Grimsby Borough 3-0 Hallam: Match Report

Grimsby Borough 3-0 Hallam: Match Report

The Wilderness Boys welcomed Hallam to the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough on Wednesday night in what was new boss Ricky Ravenhill and Assistant Manager Martin Woods’ first game in the dugout.

It was billed as a big match for both clubs as they looked to get their respective NPL campaigns motoring in the right direction in front of what was a healthy crowd at Bradley.

It was Borough, however, who’d come out on top; picking up their first home league victory of the season in convincing fashion.

There were a few changes to the matchday squad from the weekend’s defeat at Heaton Stannington, with Tom Sawyer and Billy Bradley unavailable, and replaced by the returning Sam Topliss and Josh Venney.

Ravenhill’s first starting line-up saw Heath Richardson in goal, behind a back four of Topliss, Paul Walker, Bradley Wood, and Grimsby Town loanee Alex Graham.

Alex Flett, Venney, and Harvey Cribb made up a midfield three, with Luke Ayris and Josh Clarke taking up roles on the flanks. Kieron Ceesay was the lone frontman, while Jack Barlow, Charlie Clements, Tristan Drummond, Bailey Wright, and George Burton made up the bench.

First-Half

The visitors got us underway, and were presented with a very early opportunity to take the lead, as a loose pass on the halfway line was pounced on by Hallam striker Leon Howarth, who burst through on goal and looked to round Richardson, before going down under the goalkeeper’s challenge. However, the referee waved away calls for a penalty and decided to book the striker for simulation.

That let-off spurred Borough on, and they were soon taking the initiative, with great work on the right from Ayris earning a sixth-minute corner that would provide the Wilderness Boys with the opener.

Venney’s set-piece was met on the volley by Wood, who got enough purchase on his close range effort to divert the ball beyond Hugo Warhurst in the visitors’ goal and get his side off to an ideal start.

Ceesay had started brightly, and almost added a second just two minutes later. However, the forwards strike drifted wide.

Ayris’ 12th-minute cross then went dangerously across goal with nobody able to get the decisive touch as the Wilderness Boys looked to quickly double their advantage.

That second goal almost arrived just four minutes later when Clarke was played through in the left channel, before the midfielder squared it for Ceesay. The striker misplaced his finish, though, and was left disappointed as the ball squirmed wide of the upright.

While winger Ethan Kachosa was looking lively for Hallam, Borough were largely in control, with the defensive unit dominating in the air, while the midfield’s tigerish approach to winning second balls was allowing Ceesay, Clarke, and Ayris plenty of opportunities to ask questions in the final third.

The Countrymen did force Richardson into a save on 22 minutes, as Tom Hinton’s free-kick from distance was parried wide, though the Wilderness Boys continued to play some nice football and looked a constant threat going forward, as Venney and Ceesay got into shooting positions, with both efforts dealt with by Warhurst.

Ravenhill’s men would get the second goal their performance had deserved in the 36th-minute, however, as Ceesay picked up the ball in opposition territory before driving between the two central defenders and finishing left-footed into the bottom corner.

Borough’s tails were up, and Ceesay was once again at the heart of a move that ended with Cribb’s shot from distance being comfortably saved. The final five minutes of the first period was largely played in the Hallam half, though they’d withstand the pressure as we headed into the break with the score at 2-0.

Second-Half

As the teams reappeared, the Wilderness Boys got us back underway, looking to replicate a good first-half showing and get the goals that would put the game to bed.

However, after a half-time switch, it was the visitors who began brightly, seeing a lot of the ball and probing for a way back in.

Hallam were picking up a lot of set-pieces, with the ball being delivered into the Borough box with regularity. However, despite the Countrymen’s improved showing, they were struggling to carve out any meaningful opportunities, with the Borough backline holding firm to protect Richardson, who was largely untested.

Drummond replaced Ayris with a little over 20 minutes remaining, while Borough remained a real threat on the counter, with Ceesay unplayable at times; the forward bursting through on the right and forcing Warhurst into a superb save with his feet to keep his side in the game.

Clements replaced Clarke, before Ceesay made way for Barlow as the Wilderness Boys went to a back five for the final stages, with Drummond dropping into the left-back position.

Hallam were still pushing, and throwing balls into Borough territory, but Ravenhill’s men dealt with it well, and wrapped the game up on 88 minutes when quick thinking from Topliss saw him take a quick free-kick to play in Barlow, who finished with aplomb, finding the top corner with a thunderous strike to seal the win.

Clements’ effort flew wide as we entered four minutes of stoppage time that passed by with little incident, leaving the new management team to celebrate a well-deserved victory in their first game in charge.

Opening goalscorer Bradley Wood, who was exceptional alongside Walker in the back four, picked up our Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Man of the Match award for a standout performance, though Borough were superb all over the park in picking up a much-needed three points.

The Wilderness Boys are back in action on Saturday, August 3rd (3pm kick-off) when we welcome Ashington to the Technica Home of Grimsby Borough for another big game in the NPL Division One East.