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Franklin College's Grimsby Town U19 Shadow team return to League action

Grimsby Town U19 Shadow team returned to League action after a mini winter break with a long journey to Tyneside to face Premier League outfit Newcastle United in the CEFA EFL North League.

Grimsby headed into the tie with a slightly depleted squad due to illness and injury, nonetheless they were probably slight favourites against a Magpie’s side still looking for their first win of the campaign.

The opening stages were very frantic, with the home side on the front foot. An early corner for Newcastle saw a header just graze the crossbar, shortly after a long range effort failed to really test Davies in the Town goal. Then an altercation on the edge of the Town area between Etherington and the Toon striker saw both party’s booked, and the game continued in a scrappy fashion.

Midway through the half the match began to settle down with the Mariners seeing more of the ball. Haines had half a chance but failed to make proper connection, Butters cut in from the right and fired over the bar and Atterby tried his luck from range however failed to really test the Newcastle keeper. Town were dealt another injury blow when full back Wrigley limped off after twisting his his knee just before the interval.

Neither side could really complain heading into the interval with the game scoreless.

The second half continued in similar fashion to the closing stages of the first with Grimsby having lots of possession. However Town were become frustrated in the final third by just lacking the quality in the third to finish the move off. Then on the hour mark came the biggest chance of the match so far, Perry played in Wooton who was in on goal 1v1, just as the striker was about to trigger he seemed to get the ball caught under his feet and the Newcastle keeper was able to claim the ball.

Around 10 minutes later Butters glided down the wing and pulled a ball across the face of goal however, agonisingly there was no one there to turn the ball home. Ridley was forced off with an ankle injury and replaced by Dunn. A few minutes later Dunn won a free kick on the left hand side. Woods floated the ball in from the the piece and found an unmarked Lofts in the penalty spot who had beat the offside trap, his thunderous header was superbly tipped on to the crossbar before the rebound just wouldn’t sit for anyone in a blue shirt and the danger was cleared.

It was looking to be one of those days as the clocked ticked past the 80 minute mark. However Drakes was yet to have his say. The ball broke in the middle of the park and Drakes made a driving run towards the Magpies’ box and just kept going, gliding past 2 players before showing a cool head to slot past the keeper.

Town were professional in the closing stages having to defend resolutely from heavy pressure from Newcastle as they threw the kitchen sink at the Mariners. They were safely able to wind down the clock and take 3 points from what proved to be a very tricky tie!

Full time:

Newcastle Utd U19 S 0-1 Grimsby Town U19 S

(Drakes 83’)