JACKSON DOES THE BUSINESS
GRIMSBY TOWN manager Paul Hurst said it was “meant to be” after his side dispatched of Morecambe United in their first Football League game for six years.
Kayden Jackson and Ben Davies scored either side of half time to earn the points, with Josh Gowling’s sending off doing little to dampen the party atmosphere at Blundell Park.
Hurst said: “I know a lot was made of today, but I thought the lads were excellent, backed by that support. I have to say it was a fantastic atmosphere in the ground today.
“We went down to ten men which made it a bit more difficult, but it was just one of those days that was meant to be.
“We had one cleared off the line and Kayden caused them problems with his pace and willingness to run all afternoon.
“I’m happy with a clean sheet because in pre-season we conceded too many, but it’s a team effort which starts at the front.”
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley was understandably disappointed with the result, but refused to take anything away from the newly-promoted Mariners.
“Obviously we’re disappointed as you want to get off to a good start in the first game of the season, but Grimsby deserved to win today.
“With a vocal crowd and the feel-good factor after being promoted, the early goal just gave them the shot in the arm to step their game up.
“We’ve got quite a bit of inexperience in our squad and especially in our backline. That’s where you needed a leader to take control, with five minutes gone and clear their lines but it dropped to their lad who put it away well.”
With the first chance of the game, Jackson latched onto James Berrett’s blocked shot to find the bottom corner.
It should have been 2-0 moments later, but Aaron McGowan pulled off a fantastic goal-line clearance from Scott Vernon’s drive.
Tom Bolarinwa’s attempted backpass gifted the away side what turned out to be their best chance of the game late in the half, but Tom Barkhuizen’s tame effort was easily stopped.
The Shrimps had more possession in the second period but it was Grimsby who got the second goal through Davies’ fantastic 25-yard freekick.
There was a sense of déjà vu as for the second time, Grimsby had a shot blocked off the line the minute after scoring, this time through Jackson.
And they were ruing that chance almost instantly as Gowling left the referee with no choice but to send him off, after bringing down Kevin Ellison when he was the last man. But the Shrimps could not make the extra player count as Grimsby got their first campaign back in the Football League off to a dream start.