Match report by David Elliott at Blundell Park
GRIMSBY Town came from behind against Stockport County to secure their third 1-1 draw in three home league games this season.
Town had the better of the first half and had a number of chances to open the scoring but Matty McNeil's injury time goal meant the away side led at the break.
Grimsby regrouped and levelled through Paul Bolland after 51 minutes as the midfielder got onto the end of Tom Newey's cross to head past Hatters keeper Conrad Logan.
The Mariners then pushed forward looking for the goal that would secure their first win of the season but the visitors held firm, stretching their unbeaten sequence against Town to seven games.
Alan Buckley went back to the 4-4-2 formation as the Mariners looked to recapture the form shown last time out at Blundell Park, when Town dumped Huddersfield out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy before reverting to five in midfield for last Saturday's dismal defeat at Accrington.
The change in formation meant changes to the teamsheet today, with Andy Taylor coming in to start alongside Isaiah Rankin up front in place of James Hunt.Ryan Bennett also came into the starting XI, meaning Dave Mulligan dropped to the bench.
Bennett was to slot in at right back, with Justin Whittle and Nick Fenton the two centre backs in front of goalkeeper Phil Barnes and Tom Newey again lining up on the left.
Paul Bolland and Danny Boshell were the preferred midfield pairing, with Peter Till and Ciaran Toner on the right and left respectively.Hunt and Mulligan were both named on the bench, along with Gary Montgomery, Peter Bore and Gary Jones.
Stockport manager Jim Gannon made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Shrewsbury last week, with David Poole and Jason Taylor coming in for Dominic Blizzard and Adam Griffin.Another familiar name on the Hatters list was former Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday striker Adam Proudlock, who would be one of the dangermen for Stockport.
Town were looking for their first win in six attempts against Stockport, having lost their last five league games against the Edgeley Park club.In fact, the last time Grimsby claimed maximum points against Stockport, Andy Todd, Paul Groves and Bradley Allen were the Town scorers in a 3-1 Division One win in February 2002.
The game was preceded by a minute of applause in memory and appreciation of Town's former commercial manager Tony Richardson, who died recently.
Stockport had the first chance when they were awarded a free kick just inside the Mariners half.Ashley Williams' kick into the box was aimed towards Proudlock who looked to get in just ahead of Phil Barnes.The Town stopper was able to get a touch on it though and deflect it for a corner.
Town's first opportunity saw Tom Newey race into the box after four minutes before hitting a left footed shot.The drive beat visiting keeper Conrad Logan but came back of the bar before being cleared.
Soon afterwards, Peter Till picked the ball up on the half way line and carried it towards the edge of the box before passing to Taylor.Till then got it back and crossed towards Rankin in the middle.The cross was cut out though and headed behind for a corner.
Town won a free kick for a foul on Bolland after nine minutes on the left side of the penalty area.Toner's ball in evaded everybody and went out for a goal kick.
Grimsby had a let-off on 11 minutes when Stockport had the ball in Phil Barnes' net.Gary Dicker thought he had opened the scoring, as did the noisy travelling support gathered at the other end of the ground.Luckily for the Mariners however, the assistant referee's flag was up for offside.
Two minutes later, Taylor found himself in a good position on the edge of the box.He shot at goal but Logan made a comfortable save, diving to his left.
Town had a free kick on 20 minutes just inside the Stockport half.Bennett's ball in was headed on by Whittle before being claimed by Logan.
Then Grimsby had their best chance so far when Danny Boshell was played in by Toner.Boshell shot from the edge of the box but he couldn't find the power required to beat Logan.
Stockport could have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Pilkington found Proudlock in the box.The former Wolves forward turned and shot but his weak effort was easy for Barnes.
Five minutes later, Ciaran Toner had a half chance when he was found by Fenton's long ball.The Irishman turned on the edge of the box before firing wide with his left foot.
Stockport were given another good chance when a mistake by Ryan Bennett let in Anthony Pilkington.He cut inside before unleashing a fierce shot from 20 yards which went just over the bar.
Town made the next move, when Taylor and Till combined well to send the winger clear on the right.His low cross eventually fell to Toner after Taylor had slipped in the box but the low shot was blocked and then cleared.
Stockport made a substitution four minutes before the break, with Anthony Elding coming on in place of Adam Proudlock.Town then won a corner but again, Toner's kick was dealt with by the visiting defence.
The away side then forced a string of corners in front of the Pontoon Stand but on each occasion, Phil Barnes was untroubled.
Town stepped up a gear as the half drew to a close, with Tom Newey making a powerful run through the centre of midfield before his 25 yard drive was pushed away by Logan.
Then Isaiah Rankin was unlucky not to connect fully with a cross when a stronger foot on the ball would have diverted it past the keeper.
One minute of added time was signalled and just as it looked like the half would end all square but with Town on top, Stockport grabbed the opening goal.
A long ball down the middle bounced over the Town defence and MATTY McNEIL pounced to slot the loose ball past Barnes to put his side ahead with what was the last action of the opening period.
Grimsby would have felt unlucky to have gone in at the break trailing but again, it had been a story of failing to take chances.
Town had not been presented with as many as in previous home games but they had failed to make the most of the opportunities they did get, and paid the penalty by going in behind at half time.
Stockport thought they had made the perfect start to the second half when Anthony Elding found himself through on goal.He rounded Barnes and slotted the ball home, but not before the referee had already blown for offside.
The next action again saw the ball in the net but this time it was at the other end, and this time it counted.Tom Newey's first time ball into the box found PAUL BOLLAND, whose magnificent header beat Logan and flew into the top corner for Town's equaliser after 51 minutes.
Straight after the goal, Town made their first change, sending on Dave Mulligan in place of Ryan Bennett.
Mulligan was booked for a foul before Alan Buckley made another substitution on 55 minutes.This time Andy Taylor was sacrificed to make room for James Hunt.It was not a popular move, drawing some boos from the home crowd, who would probably have preferred an extra striker to be introduced.
Town almost took the lead on 57 minutes.Danny Boshell's cross from the right was met by the head of Nick Fenton but this time, the defender's effort dropped just wide.
Ciaran Toner became the second Town player to be shown a yellow card after a tussle with Stockport's Jason Taylor by the corner flag.Both players were cautioned after being lectured by referee Mr Ward.
Isaiah Rankin broke free after 62 minutes, making a solo run into the box before attempting to get a shot away.The ball bounced back to the striker but again, he couldn't force an opening.
Stockport made their second change three minutes later, with Keith Briggs replacing Gary Dicker.
Buckley used his final substitution to send Peter Bore on for the last 16 minutes in place of Peter Till.
Stockport won a corner on 76 minutes after Matty McNeil's 25-yard snapshot deflected off Whittle.The visitors then used their last substitution to bring on Greg Tansey before the kick was taken.
Town then had a let-off three minutes later when Paul Tierney was released on the Stockport left.His low ball into the box found Elding but the striker couldn't connect with a shot and the danger was cleared.
As the game moved into the last ten minutes, Grimsby pushed forward in search of a winner, with Peter Bore moving into a central position and Boshell playing on the right of midfield.
And it was Bore who collected a ball inside the box with six minutes to go.He passed to Hunt before the ball eventually fell to Toner and his shot from 25 yards fizzed just over.
Town continued to attack but Stockport were still looking dangerous on the break through Tierney and Elding.
Grimsby won a corner after good work by Bore as the match entered three minutes of added time.Then a long throw by Newey and a free kick on the half way line kept up the attacking momentum.
Town almost had their winner in the final added minute but Ashley Williams cleared Rankin's shot off the line to secure a point for his side.
