POLLOCK THE HERO ON DERBY DAY
Town take first win in six games
GRIMSBY Town took the bragging rights on derby day as they ended a difficult week with a 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United. Mattie Pollock’s first half goal was enough to earn the Mariners a first win in six in a game of very few chances, with Manny Onariase missing the Iron’s best chance to pick up a point.
After a turbulent week off the field for the Mariners, a defiant Ian Holloway elected to make five changes to his side – chief among them was the reinstatement of James McKeown in goal after Sam Russell’s mistake at Southend in midweek.
Neil Cox though elected to stick with the side that started Tuesday’s dramatic win against Barrow, while Jake Taylor and Mason O’Malley were fit to return to the bench. The first chance of the afternoon fell to John McAtee as he latched onto Jordan Clarke’s ball in from the right, but he couldn’t work the returning McKeown with his header as the Town skipper took a simple catch.
There was plenty endeavour on show from both of the sides, but not much quality until the Mariners took the lead midway through the first half.
After Filipe Morais’ deflected corner was tipped over by Mark Howard, the resultant corner was flicked towards goal, with the Iron goalkeeper beating it back into the danger area where Pollock was on hand to turn the ball home and give the hosts a precious lead. The visitors could, and probably should, have found themselves level moments later, with Manny Onariase somehow managing to head wide after being given the freedom of the
penalty area from a free-kick.
The Mariners held onto their lead going into the break, and did a sterling job in the second half in keeping the ball as far away from their own goal as possible.
The Iron were simply unable to get out of their own half and, while Town weren’t creating any chances, the situation suited them down to a tee.
Ira Jackson Jr – impressing again in his second start for the Mariners – went as close as anyone as he nicked the ball away from Onariase before firing wide in a rare chance for either side.
The Iron almost managed to pounce on a late mistake from Elliott Hewitt, but the midfielder-turned-defender recovered just in time to slide in and prevent Jake Taylor from having a clear sight of goal, and in the process ensure his side claimed local bragging rights.