MATCH REPORT- GRIMSBY BOROUGH V BLYTH SPARTANS

We welcomed Blyth Spartans to Technica’s Home of Grimsby Borough in the NPL East as we looked to extend our unbeaten run in the league. 

It was a windy day in Grimsby as both sides looked to use the weather to their advantage. The away side got the game underway with their travelling support hoping they can get a big win away from home. The first chance of the game was for Arun Jones as Rio Molyneaux laid him off but his attempt from afar was straight at the goalkeeper. The game was very scrappy for the first 20 minutes until Charlie Burden-Whittleton made an incredible run through on goal and he made no mistake as he rolled it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to Borough. 

In the 30th minute Rio beat his man and crossed in towards Flett but his shot was straight at the Spartans shot stopper. On the brink of half time Burden-Whittleton earned us a corner and a great chance to double our lead before the break. The skipper Flett sent in a dangerous cross that bounced around before being cleared off the line and launched away from danger to end the first half.

The second half began with Borough looking to hold on to a precious lead and Blyth looking to turn the game over. Ten minutes into the second half Borough had a freekick in a promising area, Flett stood over it looking to double our lead. His curled attempt looked sure to find the top left corner but it went just wide of the post. Sixty minutes in, Rio beat the fullback with ease, he crossed low towards Adlard but his low shot was saved well to deny Borough from making it two nil. Sixty-two minutes in Blyth made a double change taking off Gomez and Chapman for Wearmouth and Aungiers. In the 67th minute Blyth had a chance from a corner which Borough couldn’t clear but the ball somehow didn’t end up in the back of the net and Auton managed to claim.

In the 73rd minute Borough made their first change taking off the goal scorer Burden-Whittleton for Edwin Essel. With not long left for Blyth to spark a comeback, they introduced Simpson for Anderson. Shortly after the Blyth change, Borough  brought on Alfie Taylor, Tom Sawyer and Brody Robertson for Aj Adelekan, Rio Molyneaux and Jack Richardson. 

There was only 5 minutes left when Blyth’s Daniel Maw shot from distance beamed off the under side of the crossbar and off the line. The Blyth players were adamant that it crossed the line but the referee gave no goal. In the last minute, Brody Robertson found Sam Topliss and he made no mistake slotting it into the corner but the linesman’s flag went up to call the celebrations short. Borough held on through added time to secure all three points and remain undefeated in the league.

Thanks to everyone who came and supported us, we hope to see you again on Wednesday as we take on Pontefract at home.

#Oneboro