Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
GRIMSBY Town were sent tumbling to their first home league defeat of the season as a Kevin Ellison goal gave Chester City a 2-1 win at Blundell Park.
The visitors had taken the lead through John Murphy on ten minutes but the Mariners went in level at the break after Danny Boshell headed his second goal in consecutive games following Peter Till's cross from the right.
Chester then restored their advantage soon after half time when Ellison pounced to tap home after substitute Simon Yeo's shot had hit the post.
Afterwards, Grimsby mounted several attacks in search of the goal that would preserve their unbeaten home record but a lack of cutting edge up front meant the visitors were able to hold out and extend their own unbeaten sequence on their travels.
Grimsby's teamsheet showed just one change from Saturday's win over Hereford as the Mariners went in search of their third league victory on the bounce.
Ryan Bennett came back into the starting XI as Justin Whittle dropped down to the bench.Bennett would partner Nick Fenton in central defence, with Dave Mulligan at right back for the last game of his loan spell with Town.Tom Newey lined up at left back.
Alan Buckley again elected to start with five in midfield so Paul Bolland, Danny Boshell and Jamie Clarke lined up in the centre of the park, flanked by Peter Till on the right and Ciaran Toner on the left.
Isaiah Rankin was the striker, with Phil Barnes in goal.Joining Whittle on the bench were Andy Taylor, Gary Montgomery, Peter Bore and Gary Jones.
Names to watch out for in the Chester side would include former Hull City winger Kevin Ellison, who returned for his second spell at the Saunders Honda Stadium in a club record deal this summer.
And City would have striking options from the bench in the shape of former Lincoln City forward Simon Yeo, who moved north to Chester after a disappointing spell with Peterborough United.
The referee started the game as an unfamiliar name to Mariners supporters.Mr. F Graham, of Essex, was making his first visit to officiate at Blundell Park.And he made the journey to Cleethorpes having booked eight players but sent off none in his five games so far this season.
Town had the first sight of goal after just ten seconds when Tom Newey's long ball straight from the kick-off found Till, who cut in and shot wide from the edge of the box.
The Mariners won their first corner after six minutes when Till's cross from the right was cut out by Simon Marples before Toner could connect with it.
Town had the better of the opening exchanges but they fell behind in the tenth minute.
Chester were attacking when the assistant referee on the Main Stand side raised his flag for an infringement near the touchline.
As Town stopped though, the referee waved play on and as the cross came into the box, striker JOHN MURPHY was there to comfortably head past Barnes and open the scoring.
After the goal, Grimsby began to raise their game and started to put pressure on John Danby's goal.First Till, then Newey made powerful runs from midfield only to see the attacks end prematurely.
Town won a free kick on 18 minutes 25 yards out on the left but it was hit low into the wall by Jamie Clarke.
Then Till showed his pace to get past right back Laurence Wilson and move to the by line before pulling the ball back to Bolland.He fired over from inside the area.
Although most of the attacking was being done by Town, the visitors showed their ability to create danger when Richie Partridge was played in on the edge of the box on 21 minutes. Luckily for Grimsby, he shot straight at Barnes.
Town's pressure finally paid off on 24 minutes when good play by Mulligan set Till away down the right.He got to the by-line again before his cross was met by DANNY BOSHELL, who headed home from ten yards for his second goal in as many games.
Town were given another warning in the 30th minute when Kevin Ellison was allowed to pick up the ball and run unchallenged to the edge of the area before shooting just wide from a central position.
The Mariners could have taken the lead when Rankin found himself with the ball in the box on 34 minutes.He steadied himself before shooting on the turn but 'keeper Danby managed to save with his feet.
Grimsby had upped the ante since getting their equaliser and were by now attacking almost at will, with Till's pace and skill proving to be a constant problem for the Chester defence.
He won another corner in the 38th minute but Ryan Bennett couldn't quite connect with Boshell's kick, leaving Danby to collect and clear.
Town won a free kick after another of Newey's runs was halted by Mark Hughes, who became the first player to be booked.
Toner's kick was curled in towards the far post but it was claimed by Danby.
Chester made their first substitution on 42 minutes as Simon Yeo was introduced in place of Nathan Lowndes.
One minute was added before the referee ended a first half that Town will probably feel they had the better of.
After conceding the early goal, the Mariners regrouped, got their equaliser through Boshell and showed a few signs that there may be more goals to come in the second period.
Town had attacked at pace, notably through Till and Newey, and had limited Chester to few opportunities at the other end.
Isaiah Rankin had the first chance to score in the second half as he raced into the box soon after the restart.But just as it looked like he was about to pull the trigger, he turned back to try and get a better angle before his eventual shot was saved by Danby.
The Mariners were made to pay for that miss a minute later when Chester regained their lead with their first chance of the half.
Simon Yeo's shot from 20 yards beat Barnes but came back off the post.KEVIN ELLISON made no mistake with the rebound, tapping the loose ball into the empty net.
Alan Buckley made a tactical move after 52 minutes, sending on Gary Jones to play as a second striker with Isaiah Rankin as Town again switched to 4-4-2.Jamie Clarke was the midfielder sacrificed to make way for Jones.
Grimsby had a good chance to get a second equaliser on the hour after Rankin broke into the box before passing to Till on the right.
The winger crossed to the far post for Jones but he couldn't direct his header towards goal and instead saw it drop wide.
Town made their second change three minutes later with Andy Taylor replacing Rankin.
Nick Fenton had to clear in his six-yard box on 65 minutes as Richie Partridge looked to profit from a Kevin Ellison centre.The Town defender was equal to the task and the danger was averted.
Grimsby's next foray forward ended in Boshell shooting wide from 20 yards after a long, patient build-up.
Town were controlling the possession without managing to create an end product in the form of goalscoring chances, leading to some home supporters becoming frustrated.
The next time the Mariners attacked though, there was a genuine scoring opportunity, although Town failed to make it count.
Taylor raced free and moved into the box.One-on-one with Danby, the Grimsby youngster tried to slip the ball past the goalkeeper but failed to score, with the Chester stopper diving to his left and saving with his feet.
Town's next move was to bring Justin Whittle on in place of Dave Mulligan, a move which saw Ryan Bennett move to right back and Whittle slot into his usual centre back position.
Chester won a corner on 77 minutes after Wilson's long ball found Yeo.He played the ball against Newey but Wilson's corner kick was cleared.
Grimsby then won a free kick for a foul on Boshell 35 yards out in a central position.Newey's low shot hit the wall before going out for a corner.
Boshell's kick to the near post found Jones, whose flicked header looked to be heading for the net but got a touch off a defender and went out for another corner.
As the game moved into the final ten minutes, Town continued to push forward looking for the goal that would bring at least a share of the points.
But it wasn't all going the way of the Mariners, with the away side moving forward looking for a third goal that would kill the game and continue their unbeaten away record.
Ellison's low, driven cross was cut out for a corner by Whittle on 86 minutes.It was taken short and played across the pitch before Newey conceded another corner on the opposite side.A third one was claimed by Barnes and sent upfield as Town launched another attack.
The Mariners were given three added minutes to try and salvage a point but Chester held firm to secure another away win and send Town to defeat at Blundell Park for the first time this campaign.
