Under 13s to good for Mini Mariners

Horncastle Town U13 v Grimsby Borough U13 Warm up Match – ‘Town too good for Mini Mariners'

On a barmy Tuesday evening Horncastle welcomed Grimsby Borough to the Wong for their second warm up match of the season. An expectant crowd gathered from the visiting and home teams, keen to see the sides development.

Town continued to miss key players but welcomed the return of captain James McKeag with a debut for Ryan Woollard.

Town kicked off and started briskly however Grimsbys first attack resulted in a penalty, Kyle Tempest the unlucky perpetrator. The borough player calmly converting the penalty, sending Peter Smith the wrong way taking the visitors into an early lead.

The Wongers set about their task to balance the scoreline, playing neat and progressive football with Connor Pinkett going close.

Then with a direct approach attacking down the left Ryan Woollard cut in from the edge of the box and using his favoured right foot lashed the ball past the keeper to equalise.

Town continued to press yet it was the mini Mariners who scored next, taking them into the break in the lead, HT 1-2.

The red and whites started the second half purposefully, pressurising the visitors into desperate defending, eventually conceding an indirect free kick in the box. With the whole Grimsby team on the goal line Ellis Roberts passed to Aaron Smith whose shot crashed against the crossbar, the rebound not falling kindly for the attackers.

An equaliser seemed inevitable, towns midfield creative genius Ellis Roberts duly obliged, firing the ball past the keeper from the edge of the box.

The visitors tired and sensing blood Town went for the in for the kill, creating wave after wave of attacks, but Grimsby held strong.

The pressure reached a crescendo with Josh Britchford latching onto a loose ball, slotting it past the keeper, taking Town into an unassailable lead.

With dusk threatening the referee blew his whistle, full time 3-2.

The coaching team praised all the players for their application and effort, with special commendation for Daniel Cobban, Ryan Woollard and Ellis Roberts. It was however Josh Britchford named as man of the match for his excellent performances in defence and attack.

Match report by Shaun Smith