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Match Report: Dartford 1 Grimsby Town 2

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SCORING important late goals is becoming a nice habit to have for Grimsby Town.

After Cleveland Taylor's injury-time heroics on Saturday, Aswad Thomas was their hero last night when his 87th minute goal sealed the Mariners' place in the play-offs thanks to a 2-1 win over Dartford.

That result, combined with Forest Green Rovers' defeat to Hereford means that Rob Scott and Paul Hurst men will definitely finish in the top five this season – and could have another shot at Wembley.

Before kick-off, there were two pieces of team news for the travelling fans to digest after their long journey south.

The first was the absence of Shaun Pearson, who was replaced by Tom Naylor at centre-half. The second was the welcome return of experienced midfield duo Derek Niven and skipper Craig Disley.

The game was barely a minute old before the first stoppage of play. Ian Miller went down after a heavy aerial challenge and had to leave the field to have a deep cut to his eyebrow stitched up.

But when that treatment proved unsuccessful, Scott and Hurst were forced into an early change with full-back Thomas coming on at centre half.

With Pearson already absent, to lose Miller as well was certainly a huge blow for the Mariners to take so early in the game.

But after a weak shot from Charlie Sheringham was claimed easily by James McKeown, Town's unfamiliar pairing of Naylor and Thomas soon began to settle to their task.

However in the 26th minute, when the latter misjudged his header, a ball was lifted over the top to Nathan Collier, who, despite missing his initial kick, still brought a decent initial stop from McKeown. Jack Evans was first to the rebound, and he duly stabbed home from 12 yards to open the scoring.

In what had been an opening half an hour of very few chances, the first goal had come out of nowhere.

However, a disrupted Town rallied as first Andy Cook headed straight at Csaba Somogyi and then, seconds later, Lenell John-Lewis nodded wide.

The Mariners had looked the more likely side to score next, but only another superb save from McKeown denied the hosts from extending their advantage.

The ball was surrendered deep in the visitors' half and the ball was worked across to the left before being fired in low to Sheringham, who must have thought his half-volley from six yards was destined for the net.

However, a sprawling Town keeper stuck out a strong right arm to add another impressive stop to his ever-growing scrapbook.

At the other end, as the clock ticked over into first half stoppage time, Town won their first corner of the game. But, all too familiarly, the set-piece drifted harmlessly into the side-netting.

That proved to be the last meaningful action of a scrappy first half, and referee Bull promptly sent the two sides into the break.


In Pictures: Dartford 1 Grimsby Town 2


Cheered on by a healthy following from North East Lincolnshire – who had now moved behind the goal Town were attacking – the visitors started brightly with Cook testing Somogyi's reflexes within five minutes of the restart.

On 55 minutes, Town were handed their best chance to draw level when the experienced Mark Arber sliced his overhead clearance into Disley's path as the skipper burst into the box.

But, one-on-one, the 31-year-old opted to take another touch instead of pulling the trigger and the chance was gone.

Just seconds short of the hour mark, John-Lewis showed good strength to bring the ball down and play in Colbeck on the right. The Yorkshireman returned the favour, but John-Lewis could only head at Somogyi.

And the Hungarian stopper was called into action again seconds later to parry away Cook's downward header from a Hatton free-kick.

Town were building pressure and the joint bosses threw on Southwell for Cleveland Taylor and then Frankie Artus, for Niven, as they went in search of an equaliser on a rapidly deteriorating pitch.

Despite the surface, Colbeck showed a clean pair of heels to burst down the right before flashing a superb ball across the area. However, neither of the outstretched Cook or John-Lewis could produce a telling touch.

At the other end, with less than 15 minutes to go, McKeown had to be on his toes to rush out and clear as Jason Prior looked to burst through, while, seconds later fellow sub Danny Harris nearly got on the end of far-post cross.

But Town had been working hard for an equaliser since the break and, 11 minutes from the end, they were on terms.

From a free-kick, Artus curled in a superb flat delivery that Cook muscled his way through to nod down and into Somogyi's bottom corner.

It was nothing more than Town had deserved but they were put back under pressure right from the restart.

Dartford broke down the right and after a near post cross was chipped in, McKeown once again produced a fine, one-handed save to deny Harris.

Roared on by Scott and Hurst, the Mariners were pressing for that late goal and two minutes before the break, they had it.

Artus' superb corner was met at the far post by Thomas, who powered home to send the travelling fans into hysterics.

Their joy was only marred when Colbeck, who had been impressive all evening, was sent off after an altercation in the corner as the clocked ticked over to 90 minutes.

But they were in fine voice at the final whistle when Town's win was confirmed and news of Forest Green's 1-0 defeat filtered through – the Mariners are in the play-offs.


Replay our live and interactive coverage below:

Match Report: Dartford 1 Grimsby Town 2


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