"WE know what other managers and other teams will want to do – they'll want to knock Grimsby Town off the top."

That's the message from joint boss Rob Scott as the Mariners head into this afternoon's clash at Ebbsfleet United, top of the Blue Square Bet Premier pile.

It might be FA Cup Second Round weekend, but all of the four sides directly below Town in the table are out of the competition and in league action today.

So the pressure is on for the Mariners – especially with 19th-placed Fleet battling for their Conference lives and buoyed by the opportunity to upset the league leaders.

Scott said: "I think a lot of sides will say 'Grimsby are here, let's put one over on them – I'll raise my levels to see if I am better than the player I'm up against, and if I could get to play for Grimsby at some point.'

"That will be their aim because we're a big club in this league, but I don't think our players are focused on that.

"You have to be professional. We know what other managers and other teams will want to do – they'll want to knock us off the top.

"We'd do the same if it was Forest Green, Wrexham or Luton. If they came to us and were top of the league we would want to knock them off there. So it's a big challenge for us and it will keep our lads on their toes.

"But we feel we're in a pretty good position. We're positive and the players that we've got are top of the league and buoyant."

After Wednesday's FA Trophy replay triumph at Buxton, Town are in Kent this weekend before heading up to the north east to face Gateshead on Tuesday evening.

And all that comes before a return to Blundell Park next Saturday to entertain Tamworth.

"It's a tough week or so for us but it's no different from any normal weeks in this league," continued Scott.

"If you look at the likes of Braintree and Luton who had their games postponed last Saturday, they'll now have to play Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday and then they've still got another league game to fit in.

"What we have done is get our fixture list up-to-date and we have got our noses in front.

"They've got a game in hand but there's a backlog of games building up and with the cold weather arriving that can only get worse over the next month or so.

"We're in a better position than last year regarding the league position, but also in terms of the fixtures as well – we're happy to have played the games and got the points on the board."

It may have taken Scott's side 87 minutes to break down Northern Premier League part-timers Buxton this week, but he and Paul Hurst remain happy with a win – however it comes.

"We have to realise that we can't play well every game," he added.

"There are a lot of teams that win championships or get promotion and they don't play every week, but grind out results. That's the sign of a good side.

"I'll be quite happy to go down to Ebbsfleet, put in a professional performance and win 1-0 – that'll do us.

"The added bonus is when we do play well. The fans obviously want to see exciting football and they've been given that recently at Blundell Park with a 5-1 win over Woking and 3-0 victory over Braintree.

"So we're getting the mixture of both, which is good from our point of view – it tells us that we can be disciplined but also have that little bit of flair in there."

POLICE are today piecing together the final moments of a biker's life after he died in a collision outside Tollbar Academy yesterday.

The local 27-year-old man suffered fatal injuries after a silver Vauxhall Corsa, driven by a parent of a student, was in collision with his Kawasaki 750 motorbike in Station Road, New Waltham, just before 9am. The road was closed until 3.45pm

At the time, scores of parents were dropping their children off at school, congesting the busy main road with rush-hour traffic, although police have not confirmed what caused the incident, or given any suggestion of contributing factors.

Academy staff were the first at the scene and battled to save the man – who has not been named – but he died at the scene.

Traffic inspector Paul Sergeant has made an urgent appeal to drivers for information surrounding the circumstances of the crash.

He said: "The accident happened in heavy traffic at the entrance to Tollbar School and we are confident a lot of people would have

1

seen the collision.

"However, so far we have only had one witness come forward. We think this is because people did not realise at the time how serious the collision was.

"We urge all people who saw the car and the motorbike before the incident and the incident itself to contact us."

About ten police officers recreated the accident – which appeared to show the car turning into the school's sixth form gates from the New Waltham direction.

The school, parents and pupils successfully campaigned to reduce the speed limit outside the school from 40mph to 30mph last year and principal Stephen Moon has repeatedly written to parents urging them to take extra care when dropping their children off at school.

They have handed over CCTV footage from the school's security cameras, which may have captured the incident and will continue to help the police with their investigations.

Mr Moon, who has deep concerns about the road outside his school, praised the quick actions of his staff, who he described as "deeply shocked" by the tragedy.

He said: "Obviously what our first aiders saw was quite shocking.

"They are trained to deal with emergency situations but thankfully, ones like these do not happen often.

"There are some members of staff who have, naturally, suffered quite a shock from the after affects.

"I don't know what the answer is to all the traffic outside the school. We have campaigned for the speed limit to be dropped, we have successfully put box junctions in place to slow the traffic down and we have repeatedly written to parents, but we cannot force parents and other drivers to listen.

"We are always worried about that road, we have major concerns that it is very busy and we have taken every precaution to make sure our pupils are safe."

Officers investigating the cause of the crash do not believe the morning's frosty weather was a factor in the crash.

A 41-year-old Cleethorpes woman has been arrested and is helping police with their inquiries.

• Replay our Big Match Live coverage: Grimsby Town held 1-1 at Ebbsfleet

TWO pensioners aged 85 and 71 have been given anti-social behaviour orders after making the lives of another couple a misery by repeatedly using abusive and intimidating behaviour.

They are easily the oldest people in the Grimsby area to be given Asbos – and are also among the oldest in the whole country.

Joseph Gallagher, 85, and Dorothy Womersley, 71, who live together off Laceby Road, Grimsby, have been given five-year Asbos.

The Asbos were imposed at Grimsby Magistrates' Court yesterday – and deputy district judge Helen Cousins told the couple that, despite their ages, she would send them both to prison if they appeared before her for a breach of the order. She said she believed that, from the evidence gathered, the pensioners had committed criminal offences.

The couple are said to have targeted another family and to have repeatedly subjected them to abusive, insulting or intimidating language or behaviour, as well as other incidents including causing damage to property.

The Asbo applications were brought as a final resort by the police and North East Lincolnshire Council after the couple apparently rebuffed repeated attempts to deal with the matter informally.

It is believed they had been warned by the police about their behaviour. The council had offered to provide mediation but, although the other family agreed, the pensioners are thought to have refused.

Defence solicitor Ed Bates, representing the couple in court, did not oppose the Asbos.

Following the court hearing, Councillor Dave Bolton, portfolio holder for community safety and neighbourhoods, said: "The Asbo was applied for as a final resort.

"We hope that it will serve as a very strong reminder about what is and is not acceptable behaviour.

"As a local authority, we have an obligation to take action to protect the community. We hope that both Mr Gallagher and Mrs Womersley will reflect on this and will refrain from the activities contained within the Asbo."

Spencer Hunt, North East Lincolnshire Council's manager for safer and stronger communities, added: "It's unfortunate that it has come to this point, but all efforts to make them change their behaviour by other means have failed.

"If the couple fail to conform to what is now legally expected of them, they know full well what the consequences will be."

Antisocial behaviour co-ordinator Paul Condon said: "It's unfortunate that we have had to take the action we have.

I hope the order granted will mean that the lives of both families may now return to normal."

Andy Everett, Humberside Police's crime reduction manager, described the couple's behaviour as "abusive, intimidating and insulting".

Conditions of the Asbo ban Joseph Gallagher and Dorothy Womersley from:

Contacting, attempting to contact or communicating with the family directly or indirectly, personally or via a third party, including by sending a message to be delivered by another person (except via a solicitor) or by letter, telephone or any other means.

Entering the family's property, including the rear and front gardens as well as any outbuildings.

Throwing any object which may cause damage or harm to either person or property in North East Lincolnshire.

MORE than 70 Santas jumped off their sleighs and laced up their running shoes for charity yesterday.

The fifth annual Santas On The Run fun run took place to raise money for St Andrew's Children's Hospice.

The two-mile run started from St James' Square, Grimsby, and involved people – and dogs – of all ages.

Organiser Angela Greenfield, of the hospice said: "We had more than 70 people taking part this year.

"We are very grateful for all the support and the money raised.

"Santas On The Run is held all over the country and we are glad to be doing one here."

CAISTOR and Market Rasen are getting into the festive spirit to mark the success of their markets.

Mr Big, the Market Rasen Business Improvements Group, will stage its pre-Christmas market in on market place this Saturday.

The market is one of two huge success stories in the Wolds towns of community groups encouraging the growth of local markets to benefit both stallholders and local tradesmen by bringing people into the town.

Market Rasen won the countryside bidding race for the awarding of Portas cash earlier this year with Mr Big showing considerable enterprise in getting things moving.

The town's market, featuring local stalls with local country produce once a month has been part of their scheme.

Volunteer market director Jackie Smith confirmed there will be more than 70 stalls in the town.

"In addition to the Market Place, we're really putting the 'festive' into Festival Hall, with more handmade, home-made arts and craft stalls than ever before, and more stalls in the car park, too.

"Mr Big's decision to move its market in December from the first Saturday of the month to the second Saturday is to tie in with the Market Rasen Christmas lights switch-on on Friday."

That evening will see a traditional Christmas fair hosted by the town council and the Market Rasen And District Round Table, with school children from three local primary schools singing carols and lots of food and drink on offer in the market place, alongside the Mayor's charity event, which will fill the Festival Hall with stalls supporting local causes.

Up the A46 in Caistor on Saturday, Caistor's monthly farmers' market will reach the end of its first year, with the event being rated a huge success by visitors and residents alike.

There is no doubt both markets can cope with taking place on the same day, such has been their growth of following this year.

The Caistor market was started in April following an initiative led by town clerk Helen Pitman with town councillors doing most of the work in putting up stalls, alongside volunteers from the general public.

Visitors to Caistor will also be able to see the town's giant Christmas tree brought to Caistor by volunteer Michael Gallighan and sponsored by the town's major employer, SeaLord, to the tune of more than £3,000.

WHAT a tree-mendous occasion!

The UK's most famous Christmas tree – the one destined for London's Trafalgar Square – landed in Immingham at the weekend to start the final leg of its 700-mile journey from Norway.

It was shipped to Immingham from Norway by DFDS Seaways and left the port for the capital on Saturday morning.

Once at Trafalgar Square it will be decorated in traditional Norwegian style, with vertical strings of energy-efficient lights ready for the switching-on ceremony at 6.30pm on Thursday.

Sean Potter, managing director of DFDS Seaways said: "For many people around the world, the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree symbolises the start of the Christmas season. We are honoured to transport the world's most famous Christmas tree through Immingham.

"This year we were experiencing strong winds and our DFDS Seaways vessel and stevedors from Norway did a first-class job shipping the tree safely and securely from Norway to Immingham.

"Our Immingham team was ready to ensure the tree continued safely on its journey ready for the big switch-on in London.

"Immingham is strategically well located and handles a wide variety of UK-international trade with daily liner sailings between Immingham and Europe, Scandinavia, The Baltics and further afield."

Children from Immingham's Allerton Primary School have been taking part in a project with the Poetry Society based on the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree and a box of the children's poems was sent with the tree to London, to be read out at the ceremony.

Judith Palmer, director of the Poetry Society, said: "During the lighting-up ceremony the poems will be read to the crowds in Trafalgar Square, with the poems also displayed on banners around the tree.

"Through the project, local children are finding out about the role DFDS and stevedors from the Immingham community are playing in shipping the tree from Norway to London, while building goodwill between the people of Norway and Britain through their learning experiences."

THE blessing of a Christmas crib has kick-started the festive season in Cleethorpes.

Pupils of St Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy in the resort, and members of the public, gathered on Saturday morning to sing carols and take part in the event.

The service was held outside St Peter's Church, in St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, and the blessing of the crib took place across the road in the window display of Robinsons Interiors.

Organiser Nanette Brown, of St Mary's Close, Grimsby, said: "This is something that has taken place for the past 20 years.

"The crib itself is actually from Bethlehem, so it is very special.

"What this represents is the start of Advent and the lead up to Christmas.

"It is so important to involve the community in this because it reminds people what Christmas is all about.

"I want to thank St Joseph's for all its support."

The blessing and carol service were held as a Churches Together In North East Lincolnshire event, which included 11 different places of worship showing their support.

Songs including Away In A Manger and Hark, The Herald Angels Sing were sung as well as readings from Luke Chapter One verses 26 to 28 and Luke Chapter Two verses eight to 16.

Year-6 teacher at St Joseph's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy Simone Moy said: "A blessing like this is very important because it marks the start of Advent.

"The pupils and teachers have been looking forward to this event.

"It is important for the children to understand what Christmas is all about.

"There is also nothing sweeter than a child's voice singing at Christmas."

Following the small service pupils carried the nativity figures across the road to Robinsons Interiors, which were placed in a crib carved from olive wood.

Head boy Reuben Wilding, 10, said: "I came to help bless the crib, which I have been looking forward to.

"It is very important to celebrate the start of the festive season because it makes us remember the birth of Jesus."

Don't forget to join in on the journey to Bethlehem by travelling across North East Lincolnshire.

The Grimsby Telegraph, in association with Churches Together in North East Lincolnshire, will be hosting displays and activities depicting the journey of the Christmas story.

You can follow the story first hand by visiting all the sites to create your own Christmas journey.

Today, the Compass Damp Proofing van will be in Sidney Street depicting the warm and dry stable.

ST PETER'S Church in Cleethorpes has launched an appeal to revamp its historic Victorian building.

The church is aiming to carry out a series of improvements aimed at securing its future as a modern community hub for the 21st century.

The work, which will include replacing rotting timber under the nave floor, installing a retractable projector screen, and creating a refreshment unit, is expected to cost about £420,000.

And although the church will apply for grant funding towards the project, it anticipates that it will have to raise about £60,000 of the money through its own fundraising.

Announcing the launch of the A-mend Appeal, the Reverend Paul Hunter, the rector of St Peter's, said: "St Peter's has a glorious past. It was built in 1866, but the building is showing its age.

"Now we believe is the time for all of us, the church, and the town's communities to work together with the help of God to restore and renew this building for the next generation.

"It is both a great challenge and an exciting adventure – challenging because of the effort and faith that is required to achieve our goal, exciting because of the opportunities that will be opened by undertaking this project."

Gordon Smith, the architect behind the plans, said that although the appeal was first mooted because of the need to replace the rotting timber, it now represented a great opportunity to equip the church for the 21st century.

Also included in the plans are a new dais to increase the space for performers taking part in concerts and plays, a new glass door at the entrance, improved access to the tower so members of the public can enjoy panoramic views from the top, and an enlarged annexe with an office, meeting room and a toilet for the disabled.

A series of fundraising events are being planned, and donations can be made by sending a cheque, made payable to St Peter's Church, Cleethorpes, to St Peter's Parish Office, St Peter's Church Hall, St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, DN35 8HP. Please write A-mend project on the back of your cheque.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a young Special Constable and cage fighter who "crammed more into 24 years than most people do in 80".

Scott Bennett will be remembered by his family, partner and friends as a loving, dependable and supporting man who lived his life to the full.

As reported, Scott died in a collision on the A46 at Welton on November 3 – a year to the day after he became a Special Constable with Lincolnshire Police. His blue Toyota Celica was in collision with a lorry at about 8.50am.

His family say he will be missed by a huge number of people and remembered as someone who could always be relied on for help and support.

Scott was born in Grimsby and went to Welholme Infants School, before going on to Tollbar Business Enterprise College and Grimsby College, where he studied PE, business studies and travel. He also completed a B-Tech in Uniformed Public Services and went on to start a criminology degree with Lincoln University. He was still studying, while working part-time at Asda, at the time of his death. It was his long-term ambition to become a police officer.

He leaves behind his mother, Dawn Bennett, 45, his father Stephen Bennett, 50, brother Shane, 26, and his 22-year-old girlfriend, Jenny Inkson.

Mrs Bennett, a mortgage broker, said: "He was such an unassuming young man with a charitable nature – he helped so many people, not for the thanks, just because he really cared."

In his spare time Scott was a cage fighter, who regularly went to Fight Ministry in Grimsby and he also had an interest in tae kwon do, jujitsu and kick boxing.

Jenny, an estate agent, said: "Scott was known for his dry, sarcastic sense of humour and the fact that he just got on with his life and lived it to the full. He probably crammed more into 24 years than most people do in 80."

Special Chief Officer Stephen Woodcock said: "We have tragically lost a valued member of our policing family in Lincolnshire. Although Scott had only served for one year he showed commitment to his role, and had been commended by me in August for good work."

Scott had a full police funeral on November 9.

HUNDREDS of people of all ages gathered to prove the light they carry for lost loved ones is still alive.

The annual Light Up A Life service took place on Saturday afternoon at Grimsby Minster.

The event, organised by St Andrew's Hospice, gives people the time to reflect and think about those they have lost.

The service was led by the charity's chaplain, Father David McCormick.

He said: "This is one opportunity to celebrate Christmas, but it can also be poignant to those that are grieving.

"Most people are here because they have lost someone and this is a chance to remember them.

"I hope the service will give people strength through the festive season.

"We are also celebrating the work of the hospice and I have to say it is my privilege to serve it.

"It is a humbling experience for me to draw alongside people on a difficult journey and they all inspire me.

"This service is also about the message of hope and there are times when we are on our knees but hope lets us stand again."

The service included the carols While Shepherds Watched, The First Nowell and Hark, The Herald Angels Sing among others. There were also readings from the Wind In The Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, and If, by Rudyard Kipling.

A film was also played that showed the work of the hospice's Caterpillar Sibling Support Group to remind people that the families of ill people are also cared for at St Andrew's.

Mother-of-six Zoe Truman, of Winthorpe Road, Grimsby, said: "My youngest Zack Hitchins, 4, has Wilms' tumours which are a type of cancer and because of that he goes to the hospice.

"The staff at the hospice have been brilliant with all my children.

"This service is so important to everyone and it is a time we can remember people and say thank you."

Five of Zoe's children were asked to turn the Minster's Christmas tree lights on, which were used to represent lost loved ones.

Son Corey Truman, 10, said: "I helped light the tree up to remember people at the hospice.

"My brother Zack goes there, which means I also go sometimes.

"It is a fun and caring place and I am glad it is here to help my brother."

Light Up A Life is the hospice's main annual fundraising event and last year raised £25,000.

Community fundraiser Lynne Lemon said: "Sometimes the hospice feels like a family.

"We have patients that come for years and then suddenly they are not there anymore.

"This service helps us remember all those people.

"The money raised from this event is very important.

"We need £3 million a year to run the hospice and so everything that we do raise is vital."

MARCUS Marshall is the first to admit that he doesn't score as many goals as he should.

However, after opening his Grimsby Town account against Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, the tricky winger has pledged to be more of a threat to opposition keepers this season.

He opened the scoring against the Fleet with a sublime third-minute strike that looked to have set Town on their way in Kent, only for them to be pegged back by Matt Godden's tap-in just before half-time.

Speaking after his man-of-the-match performance, Marshall revealed the goal was the result of some encouragement from joint bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst.

He explained: "I don't score enough goals and the gaffers have told me to shoot more and that's what I'm going to be doing from now on.

"On Saturday, I just cut in and whipped it. I think the keeper might have got fingertips to it, but thankfully it went into the top corner.

"Obviously that was my first goal for Town so I'm pleased to get off the mark – hopefully it's the first of a few more."

Reflecting on the result in Kent, Marshall said: "A point is ok but you always want to be winning games. Away from home, a draw is never really a bad result but, when you're at the top like we was, you want to win all your games.

"Now we've got Gateshead tomorrow night, which isn't going to be an easy game, but we've got to go there looking for the win and get another three points on the board."

Marshall's loan from parent club Bury is set to expire in January, meaning that the 23-year-old will be available for Town's crunch clashes over the festive period.

Scott and Hurst have already mooted that they are looking to extend deals for as many of the current loan players as possible, and Marshall says he'd be more than happy to stay on at Blundell Park and help the Mariners to promotion this season.

He added: "I'm really enjoying my football at the minute with Grimsby. It's just nice to be playing to be honest as it's something that I've not done a lot of over the last year.

"I've been in and out of teams so it's nice to be back. I'm seeing a lot of the ball and getting a lot of touches, so slowly but surely my confidence is coming back.

"I'm happy here and I want to help the team do as best as they can.

"There might be something for me here further down the line, but, at the minute, I'm just taking each day as it comes.

"I'm here until January as it stands and if the gaffers decide that they want to keep me here for longer then I'd be more than happy with that.

"I'm going to be here for the games over Christmas and those are always important, we've got a couple of the loan lads who aren't able to which is a blow but I think we've got enough in the squad to cope with that.

"It's a very tight league – Luton, Newport and Wrexham are all in there but hopefully we can get enough to win promotion."

THE Mariners' stay at the top of the pile may have been brief – but Saturday's battling draw at Ebbsfleet provides more reasons to be optimistic than downhearted.

For it was just the kind of 'blood and guts' encounter that the Town of old may well have lost.

Facing a physical and uncompromising Fleet side – very much in manager Liam Daish's own image – the visitors' promotion credentials were given a thorough examination.

But on a freezing afternoon in Kent, Town passed another test – maybe not with flying colours, but it was a pass nevertheless.

And with a little more composure on the ball, especially in the final third, the Mariners could have been heading home with all three points and their place at the Conference summit restored.

As it was, Newport County's lunchtime victory saw them leapfrog Town into top spot prior to kick-off at Stonebridge Road – and that's where the Welsh side stay going into tomorrow evening's matches.

Nathan Pond was back in the starting line-up in the south east, returning from a knock to replace the unfortunate Ian Miller at centre-half.

Elsewhere Sam Hatton came into the side at the expense of Bradley Wood, while Ross Hannah and Andy Cook led the line.

Of the starting strikers at Buxton for last week's FA Trophy replay, Michael Rankine dropped to the bench and Greg Pearson was omitted from the squad completely.

Winger Louie Soares, who played nine times for the Fleet this season during a loan spell in Kent, also travelled but watched from the stands – where he had a great view of Marcus Marshall's sublime opening goal.

The game was less than three minutes old when Hannah set the wideman free down the left flank, allowing the Bury man to cut inside and curl a sumptuous right-footer into the far corner.

Home keeper Preston Edwards got a touch on it, but, in truth, the shot was in all the way and the Town fans massed behind that goal knew it.

Town's Dayle Southwell had two powerful drives blocked in the box following a clever, low corner shortly after. And a superb run down the left from Aswad Thomas almost created the visitors' second, with Andy Cook inches away from poking his cross home at the near post.

The young striker then planted a tame header on target – which Edwards gathered easily – before Thomas' driven cross hit Marshall six yards out when a goal looked certain.

Ashley Carew had the hosts' first effort on goal in the 17th minute, but James McKeown in the Town goal clutched it comfortably enough.

The frenetic start continued as Carew skipped off the left flank and, when his effort found its way to the unmarked Matt Godden at the far post, the forward looked certain to level the scores with a diving header.

However, McKeown spread himself superbly to parry the ball away and preserve Town's slender advantage.

Phil Walsh had an equally good chance in the 22nd minute when another Fleet corner was flicked on at the near post but the centre-half could only plant his header over from ten yards out.

Hannah then blazed a 25-yarder high and wide after another enterprising run by Marshall, before Shaun Pearson's header from a corner forced Edwards into a stunning point-blank save.

Fleet broke down the field and Liam Enver-Marum and Tom Phipps brought further saves from McKeown as the action continued.

It was an opening half hour to warm the cockles but, despite a brief lull, there was more to come before the break.

Unfortunately for Town, that came in the shape of an equaliser.

In the 43rd minute, Phipp's cross from the right was sliced on by Craig Disley at full stretch and the ball dropped perfectly for Godden in front of goal to tap home.

The lively striker then had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Adam Bromley after collapsing under Pond's challenge before an entertaining, end-to-end half came to an end.

Godden almost brought the second period to life just three minutes in with a powerful effort from 25 yards but McKeown was equal to it.

And, at the other end, Pearson rose highest to plant another header over the home crossbar.

Cook blazed a shot from distance over before another Marshall run gave Hannah the space to bend a first-time effort from 25 yards narrowly wide of the far post with Edwards scrambling across his goal.

Dangerman Carew almost squeezed a low drive past McKeown at one end – but was thwarted – and Edwards was required seconds later to tip away Marshall's shot on the run.

Joe Colbeck made his return from injury in the 69th minute, replacing Southwell, but with time running out, the second half was lacking the cut and thrust of the first – and needed a spark.

Rankine also entered the fray, for Cook, and Town thought they had earned all three points as the game entered its last ten minutes.

A long throw from Hatton was half cleared to Derek Niven 30 yards out and his piledriver looked destined for the back of the net until a Fleet leg deflected the ball a couple of inches over bar.

Then with six minutes left, the Mariners came equally close to leaving with nothing

McKeown slipped and was unable to clear Disley's bobbling backpass, allowing Godden to surge past him. However, the visiting keeper did superbly to recover and dive at the striker's feet again to get away with just a corner.

Rankine dragged a shot from 20 yards wide with five seconds remaining, and that was the last of the action as Town left Kent with a solitary point for their efforts.

The Mariners drop to second place and – with the likes Forest Green Rovers and Wrexham hot on their heels – tomorrow evening's trip to Gateshead takes on even greater significance.