Town 2 - 1 Lincoln

Grimsby go to Cardiff after a magnificent victory ... the ONLY home victory in this year's play-offs!  Gary Jones, magnificent in defnce and attack and scorer of the winning goal was sent-off two minutes into added time.

Town have still never lost a play-off game ... winning every one of them bar their first drawn match at Craven Cottage.

Grimsby chose to attack the Pontoon Stand in the first half, with Lincoln kicking off in front of a packed Blundell Park.

Rob Jones and Gary Croft were brought in for Ben Futcher and the injured John McDermott.

Town won a free-kick for a foul; by Kerr after 2 minutes with nothing coming from the kick.

Town attacked in numbers after 3 minutes but the ball broke to the other end, and in Lincoln's next attack they shot well wide.

Beevers took a long throw into the Town box, but Town cleared and Lincoln played the ball all the way back to Marriott, and then Rob Jones nodded the ball back to Mildenhall when Marriott blasted it forward.

Beevers next long throw saw Whittle heading out for a corner, which Croft headed away to the halfway line.

Newey was given the ball and ran all the way, releasing Gary Jones but he couldn't get the ball on target.

Yep led with his arm and gave Town a free-kick as Lincoln let Town know they were in a game, and when Mendes played the ball in it was put out for a throw and Woodhouse crossed as Gary Jones dived desperately to get his head on the ball.

Town's next free-kick was taken by Woodhouse and chipped it to the right where Morgan cleared. Town then gained yet another free-kick near the corner of the box, but the delivery was too close to Marriott.

After 19 minutes, McCombe was booked after not simply handling the ball, but kicking it away as well. The free-kick was within shooting distance, taken by Newey and the ball flew a foot wide as Marriott scrambled desperately.

Lincoln won the next free-kick in a dangerous position and Gary Jones was on hand to clear with Parkinson racing forward surrounded by four Lincoln defenders and found Mendes.

Rob Jones went down with a head injury which needed attention from Dave Moore and had to leave the pitch for medical attention.

Mendes conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box with Town still a man down.

Goal!: 26:28 and the ball was curled in, and headed into the net by Robinson. It was the first play-off goal that that Town had conceded since the first game at Fulham.

Futcher then came on for Jones who was still off the pitch.

Lincoln drove forward looking for a second goal as Town's defence was forced to soak up the pressure.

Cohen tripped Robinson, and Hughes' cross was headed away by Whittle as Rob Jones came out to watch the game.

Town won a corner on 33 minutes, Newey delivered the ball deep, and driven in by Woodhouse, with the ball being cleared for a throw 15 minutes out. The fans claimed handball from McCombe but the referee wasn't interested.

Parkinson took the ball down the wing and it needed a good interception by Lincoln to dispossess him at the expense of a throw-in, and then the former Tranmere man was dumped on the ground for a free-kick which didn't yield any result.

Jones kept the ball in and found Croft, but Hughes downed the full-back and gained a deserved booking, but the free-kick was over hit.

Simon Yeo went down in the box looking for a penalty, and the referee booked the Lincoln man for diving.

With Mildenhall saving, Brown seemed to have the goal at his mercy and hit the scoreboard instead.

Simon Yeo said something to the referee, who lectured the Lincoln man.

Town won a throw-in off Hughes as he was harried by Cohen, and Bolland shot in the cross, but it was blocked.

Lincoln won a corner on 44 minutes, delivered in by Scott Kerr, met by Mendes, but only to Hughes and Gary Jones cleared.

Parkinson relieved the pressure and rolled it to Mendes whose long shot was beaten down and collected by Marriott.

Croft was booked for a foul on Robinson with just 25 seconds left, and Yeo eventually bent in a shot just off target.

Half-time: Town 0 - 1 Lincoln

There were no changes at half-time, despite Reddy warming up during the half-time interval, with Town kicking towards the away fans in the Osmond Stand.

Woodhouse gained a free-kick against Kerr for a high foot, taken by Newey the ball was headed back across the goal and as Cohen tried to get the ball down he was adjudged to handle.

Futcher lifted the ball forward for Cohen but Morgan passed to his keeper.

Cohen was caught late and went down, as did the defender Beevers. After a long delay, both players left the pitch looking likely to be waved on again.

Mendes and Croft came away with the ball, and Cohen was scythed down by McCombe, who had already been booked and looked to receive his final warning. Newey stood over the ball, to Futcher and headed just over the bar.

Woodhouse was the next Town player to be flattened, and the kick was taken quickly to Croft and then to Mendes, as Whittle headed the ball down, but no Town man had anticipated the chance.

Bolland found Mendes with a great ball, but Morgan was alert to the danger. Woodhouse switched to Newey, but overran the ball.

Lincoln won a corner after 57 minutes, Croft heading away, and Lincoln played it in, and Yeo's shot was cleared off the line by Croft.

Croft overlapped, and won a corner for Town off McCombe, as Reddy came on for Cohen on 59 minutes.

Goal!: 59:26 The corner came in and there was former Lincoln man Futcher to score the equaliser on the night, and give Town the lead over the two games.

Blundell Park erupted in delight as the cauldron of sound rent the night air.

Lincoln won a free-kick, and with Yeo standing unmarked, Kerr chose to blast high over the bar.

Yeo brought a good save from Mildenhall after turning Newey and the corner was played away by Whittle.

"Sing when we're fishing" rang round the rafters, followed by all the other Town fans' favourites, but Whittle conceded a free kick and gained a yellow card after 65 minutes.

Gary Croft was having a great game but was booked for a foul near the Town goal-line, with Lincoln wasting the opportunity.

Forrester went down in the box looking for a penalty, but his appeals were waved away, and then Futcher conceded another free kick, and Brown hit a rising drive into row z of the Pontoon Stand.

Newey came forward and won a corner, with Futcher and Whittle going up for the set piece. Parkinson volleyed the ball but he shot into the crowd.

Gary Jones cleared and tackled three times to keep Lincoln away from a shooting position. Lincoln brought on striker Green.

On 76 minutes Toner replaced Junior Mendes.

McCombe went down and there was a significant hold-up while he received attention from the Lincoln physio.

Reddy turned McCombe and followed by half the Lincoln defence he found Parkinson, but Lincoln got it away only to concede a free-kick as Gary Croft was hauled down.

Goal!: 81:09 The free-kick came in and Gary Jones met it with a flashing header to put Town 2-1 up on the night, and 3-1 on aggregate. Woodhouse had floated in a beautiful free-kick to set up the goal.

This was the first time that Town had scored 2 in their 5 play-off games.

Lincoln came forward, but the ball was straight to Mildenhall.

Woodhouse and Frecklington tussled, with Frecklington being booked, and then another Lincoln player too.

Mildenhall kicked long, Parkinson went down the left, and won a corner, which Marriott dropped under pressure, and as Lincoln knocked it out the referee blew up for attention to the keeper.

4 minutes of added time was signalled.

Green was in the danger area, but mis-hit his shot and the ball went out for a Town throw.

Lincoln's next shot found the Pontoon seats, and there were two minutes to go.

Gary Jones was sent off for an elbow two minutes into the time added on.

Full-time: Town 2 - 1 Lincoln