Match Report by David Elliott at Meadow Lane
GRIMSBY Town made it nine games without defeat after coming from behind to earn a draw against Notts County.
In an entertaining contest at Meadow Lane, the Mariners controlled long periods of the first half and would probably have felt they should have gone in leading at half-time.
North and Clarke had both gone close but County also had chances to take the lead in what was an open first 45 minutes.
The second half began in similar fashion and it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on 59 minutes, with Richard Butcher scoring his tenth of the season.
Their lead didn't last long though, with Nick Fenton's composed finish putting the Mariners on level terms two minutes later.
Both teams had chances to win it but in the end, they had to settle for one point each, both extending unbeaten runs in the process.
Town were forced to make two changes to the team that beat Bury on Tuesday night.
Tom Newey missed out after injuring his toe against the Shakers, while Gary Jones took a place amongst the Mariners substitutes.
That meant Ryan Bennett made a return to the starting line-up, while Peter Till's performances coming off the bench in recent games forced him into Alan Buckley's starting XI.
Phil Barnes began in goal as usual, while Sam Hird, Ryan Bennett, Fenton, Rob Atkinson and Nick Hegarty made up the back five.
The midfield three was unchanged, with Clarke, James Hunt and Danny Boshell teaming up in the centre of the park.Till began with a free role behind lone striker North.
Jones was joined on the bench by Gary Montgomery, Justin Whittle, Peter Bore and Andy Taylor.
Notts County named ex-Mariners defender Mike Edwards and former Town loanee Jason Lee in their starting line-up.
Another one to watch would be the former Lincoln City midfielder Butcher, who was County's top scorer with nine goals prior to this game.
Further firepower could have come from the bench in the form of ex-Hull striker Lawrie Dudfield and Spencer Weir-Daley, who crossed the Trent when he joined the Magpies from city rivals Nottingham Forest.
Both sides went into the game with unbeaten runs to protect.Town's stretched back to the end of December and stood at eight games in all competitions without defeat, while County hadn't lost in three games going into this clash.
Notts were expecting an above average crowd after reducing ticket prices for home fans to celebrate the 86th birthday of former manager Jimmy Sirrel.
Town were also backed by a large and noisy contingent of 914 travelling supporters who had made the relatively short trip from North East Lincolnshire.
County won the first corner of the game on three minutes after Lee was beaten in the air.Fenton was fouled as the kick came across.
Town's first attack saw Till run from inside his own half and into the box before his shot was half-cleared.The ball came back out to Clarke but he could only win a corner.
Notts won a free kick on eight minutes after Bennett fouled Butcher.Stephen Hunt's kick found Lee, whose header was comfortably caught by Barnes.
In a lively opening ten minutes, Town had the next chance when North found himself one-on-one with home keeper Kevin Pilkington.The Mariners top scorer couldn't add to his tally though as Pilkington saved with his legs when North tried to push the ball past him.
Lee had another chance on 12 minutes after he got the wrong side of Bennett.The shot from 12 yards was weak though and Barnes was able to gather the ball.
Town were enjoying long spells of possession and territory, with much of the game being played inside the County half.
And they had another chance to take the lead when Till made a run down the right and crossed to Hegarty on the edge of the box.He took a touch before volleying wide.
Notts were given a free kick on 22 minutes, 25 yards from goal and to the right.The ball was played to the unmarked Lee but his shot couldn't find a way through the Town defence.
Then on 26 minutes, the Mariners had their best chance yet.Till was involved again as he made a run forward before looking back for support.The ball was then worked to Hird on the right and his cross found North.
The youngster's header from 10 yards was unfortunately straight at Pilkington, who caught the ball on his line.
Hunt was adjudged to have fouled Gavin Strachan on the half-hour but when the resulting free kick was launched into the Town box, the offside flag was raised against Edwards.
County were given another platform on 35 minutes when Bennett had to clear for a throw-in level with his own penalty area.It led to Gary Silk crossing for Lee but the ball was just too high and Barnes claimed it well.
Atkinson won a free kick three minutes before the break, 30 yards out in a central position.Clarke stepped up to shoot but his effort went well wide.
Boshell had a shot easily stopped from the egde of the box as the game moved into one minute of stoppage time.
And that proved to be the last chance for Town to take what would have been a deserved lead into half-time.
Alan Buckley's side had played much better football than was seen in the games at home to Bury and Shrewsbury over the last week.
And on another day, the Mariners might have taken a two-goal lead into the interval, with North and Clarke both going close.
Notts had shown enough to suggest they might find a way through as well though, meaning the signs were pointing towards goals in the second half.
No changes were made before the restart and both sides made bright starts to the second half.
The ball was being moved from end to end as both teams looked to attack but it was the home side who were almost gifted a 54th minute lead.
A mix up between Clarke and Barnes let in Ryan Jarvis and he looked certain to score but the Town stopper did well to narrow the angle and block the shot.
North turned on the edge of the box three minutes later before moving into the area and shooting over the bar from 12 yards.
The next attack brought the opening goal, and it was the hosts who got it.A ball was played through to BUTCHER, who shot low into the bottom corner to take his goals tally into double figures for the season.
Town immediately set about getting back on level terms and just two minutes later, they had their equaliser. Boshell pushed the ball through to FENTON and he finished well, coolly slotting it past Pilkington in front of the Mariners supporters.
County could have gone back in front on 64 minutes when Strachan took a free kick inside the Mariners half, but Lee's flick-on was just too far ahead of Hunt and the ball ran out for a goal kick.
Another free kick was given against Hegarty on the County right, but again the Mariners were first to the ball, with Hunt clearing the danger.
Till had a great chance to put Town ahead on 69 minutes as he cut in from the left and shot from 12 yards.His first effort was blocked, while a second attempt took a deflection for a Town corner, from which Fenton headed wide.
Town were beginning to dominate now and they won another corner when Hegarty had a left-wing cross blocked.
But Notts sent out a reminder that they were still in the game too when they won a corner almost straight afterwards.
County then made the first substitution of the afternoon, replacing Ali Gibb with Myles Weston.
His arrival appeared to spark the hosts into life as they began to put pressure on the Town goal.
Weston himself looked lively, with his pace getting him to the by-line for two early crosses and then seeing him cut in from the wing before narrowly failing to find Lee.
Atkinson was penalised for a foul on 77 minutes but the free kick was cleared.
Then with ten minutes to go, Hegarty sent a controlled volley narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Spencer Weir-Daley replaced Lee as Notts looked to change their attacking options in a bid to force a decisive goal.
He headed over from a Lee Canoville cross as he looked to make an immediate impact before Notts won another corner on 83 minutes.
Lawrie Dudfield replaced Ryan Jarvis as County made their final substitution with three minutes left to play.
But if any side looked more likely to force a winner, it was Town.They were doing most of the attacking and nearly took the lead when Hegarty got onto an Atkinson long throw inside the box.
He couldn't find the power required to beat Pilkington, who was named as the sponsor's Man of the Match, and the scores remained level.
Three additional minutes were signalled as Town made their first substitution, sending Gary Jones on in place of North.
Till won a throw in the dying seconds of those extra minutes but as the long delivery came in, referee Mr East blew his whistle to end what had been an entertaining contest.
