Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
GRIMSBY Town ended Hereford United's 100 per cent away record to register their first home victory of the season.
In an entertaining encounter at Blundell Park, Town took the lead on 20 minutes when Danny Boshell got on the end of a Tom Newey cross to prod past Wayne Brown for 1-0.
Grimsby then doubled their advantage on 51 minutes, when Newey beat Brown at his near post with a free kick from the right corner of the penalty area.
Hereford weren't going to give their record up without a fight though and they pulled one back through Trevor Benjamin.
Both sides could have had more goals in what had been a thoroughly enjoyable second half for the supporters but in the end, it was the Mariners who secured a deserved three points and made it two wins from their last two games.
Grimsby made just one alteration to the team that won at Lincoln last week, with Jamie Clarke coming in for the injured James Hunt.
Clarke was joined in midfield by Paul Bolland and Danny Boshell, with Peter Till lining up on the right and Ciaran Toner on the left.They played in front of a back four comprising Dave Mulligan, Nick Fenton, Justin Whittle and Tom Newey.
Phil Barnes started in goal and Isaiah Rankin was again asked to lead the line as the lone striker as Alan Buckley again opted to start with the 4-5-1 formation.The Town subs were Andy Taylor, Gary Montgomery, Ryan Bennett, Peter Bore and Gary Jones.
Hereford came to Blundell Park as the surprise package of League Two so far.Before this game, they had won three out of three games away from Edgar Street, scoring seven goals in the process and conceding just one.And that form on the road saw them head to Cleethorpes sitting in second place in the table.
Names to watch out for in the Bulls' starting line up would include promising winger Lionel Ainsworth, who has England Under-17 and U19 honours to his name.
A name perhaps familiar to Town fans in the Hereford side was Steve Guinan.His goal for Cheltenham Town denied the Mariners promotion in the Play-Off final of 2005-06.He started up front with ex-Leicester striker Trevor Benjamin, while Australian Under-23 international full back Trent McClenahan was named on the bench.
Town kicked off attacking the Pontoon Stand and they had the first opportunity to create a chance when Rankin was fouled on the left after three minutes.Ciaran Toner's ball into the box was comfortably taken by visiting keeper Wayne Brown.
Hereford then began their own short spell of pressure, winning two corners in quick succession, the second of which was headed wide by Toumani Diagouraga.
Phil Barnes saw his first action on 11 minutes when Clint Easton's shot from the edge of the box changed direction after deflecting off Whittle.The Town keeper managed to readjust though and tipped the ball around the post for a corner.
Although the visitors had been closest to opening the scoring, it was Town who had dominated the opening exchanges, playing some good football from midfield but without making any clear-cut goalscoring chances.
But when they did create that first opportunity in front of goal, Town cashed it in to take the lead.
Tom Newey, whose forward runs had been a feature of the opening 20 minutes, crossed low from the left.The ball found its way across the six-yard box to the far post, where DANNY BOSHELL slid in to prod home from close range.
Hereford were awarded a free kick on the half way line on 28 minutes after Bolland had fouled Ben Smith.The ball was delivered into the box for Benjamin to head towards goal but the attempt resulted in a comfortable save for Barnes, diving to his left.
Benjamin, who had proved to be a handful for the Town defence, won his side a corner three minutes later.Again though, the kick didn't create any problems for the Grimsby defence, who were able to clear the danger.
Town had another good chance in the 37th minute when more good build-up play ended in Boshell being fouled by Easton.Referee Ray Lee blew for a free kick 25- yards out and in front of the goal.Jamie Clarke stepped up and curled the kick just over the bar.
Grimsby could have stretched their lead on 40 minutes, when Peter Till's cross found Toner but the Irishman could only head into the hands of Brown.
Then seconds later, the visitors almost equalised.Easton's cross was met by Benjamin but he headed over from ten yards.
There was a shout for a penalty from the home fans three minutes before the break when Rankin turned in the box before going down.The cries from the Pontoon were ignored by Mr Lee, who allowed play to go on and Hereford to clear.
Three minutes of stoppage time were added and in the second of them, Boshell was fouled by Diagouraga.The Hereford man saw his become the first name to go into the referee's book before the free kick resulted in open play.
Town played out the remaining minute of added time, passing the ball across the midfield before Mr Lee's whistle ended a half which Grimsby had dominated and deservedly finished in the lead.
But despite this, Boshell's had proved to be the only goal of the first half and for all their possession, Town had not really created many more genuine scoring opportunities.
Hereford had looked dangerous in patches, with Benjamin's presence adding to the pacy runs of winger Lionel Ainsworth.They had shown their potential to create chances too, so Alan Buckley's Mariners would undoubtedly be looking to turn possession into chances and more importantly, goals when the game restarted to make sure of the three points.
Town had the first chance of the second half and with it, extended their lead.
Boshell was fouled by Easton on the edge of the box in the 51st minute.The referee awarded a free kick and the ball was placed on the right corner of the penalty area.TOM NEWEY then stepped up and hit a low, powerful shot which found the corner of the net, beating Brown at his near post.
Almost straight away though, the visitors were nearly back in the game.A mix-up between Barnes and the Town defence on the edge of the box let in Ainsworth, who side-footed towards the unguarded net. Grimsby had a big let-off though as the ball hit the post before being cleared by Fenton.
The Mariners weren't so lucky soon afterwards, as Hereford got their goal on 55 minutes.More Town hesitancy led to a cross to the far post, where the unmarked TREVOR BENJAMIN struck to halve the deficit.
After a frenetic opening to the second half, Alan Buckley made his first substitution with 58 minutes gone.Andy Taylor was sent on in place of Paul Bolland as the Mariners switched to 4-4-2, with Taylor joining Rankin in attack.
Grimsby were galvanised by the young striker's introduction and Taylor himself could have restored the two goal lead on 61 minutes.He found himself through on goal with only Brown to beat but his shot was saved by the feet of the Hereford keeper before Newey fired over from an acute angle soon afterwards.
Town continued to attack and good hold-up play by Rankin in the corner led to Toner shooting well wide two minutes later.
Hereford made their first change with Theo Robinson replacing Steve Guinan before Town made another substitution, bringing on Gary Jones for the hardworking Isaiah Rankin.
Town kept up their spell of what seemed like relentless pressure on the Hereford goal, launching wave after wave of attacks as they looked for the third goal that would surely secure the victory.
Jones and Taylor combined well on a number of occasions, with Toner and Till also moving forward at will.
Hereford sent on Luke Webb to replace Toumani Diagouraga and they nearly had what had seemed like an unlikely equaliser when Lionel Ainsworth's 20-yard shot was well saved by Barnes before Benjamin's follow-up hit the side netting.
Town's final change was to bring Ryan Bennett on, with Danny Boshell the man making way.Peter Till switched to the left, with Mulligan moving to take his place on the right wing.Bennett slotted in at right back, with Toner moving to the centre of midfield.
Andy Taylor's pace had caused the visiting defence problems since he came off the bench and they had another scare with five minutes remaining.Taylor picked the ball up 40 yards out and made his way into the box.Unfortunately for Town, his shot lacked power and was gathered by Brown.
As four minutes of added time were signalled, Hereford won a corner on the left.Ainsworth's cross was headed away by Mulligan before Town eventually won a throw thanks to good covering work by Clarke.
Theo Robinson almost levelled for Hereford but his side-footed effort from 12 yards was saved by the feet of Barnes as the Mariners, encouraged by their vocal supporters, hung on for their first home victory of the campaign.
