Grimsby Borough narrowly defeated in thriller

GRIMSBY Borough continued their pre-season schedule with a narrow 5-4 defeat in a pulsating game with neighbours Gainsborough Trinity.

The Conference North side opened the scoring after five minutes at Bradley Community Stadium, through a Liam Davis free-kick, and doubled their advantage ten minutes later.

Borough then began to settle and started putting together some decent moves – earning a corner after 25 minutes, which Louis Grant whipped into the box for Steve Davis to head home.

Gainsborough looked shocked at conceding a goal, and five minutes later they conceded a another when Davis netted his second and put the home side on level terms with a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner.

And Borough nearly took the lead when a brilliant cross from Grant was headed against the up right by Luke Fanthorpe, and the visitors scrambled the ball to safety.

Gainsborough recovered and scored a third on half-time to make it 3-2.

The hosts changed their entire midfield at the break to freshen things up, and the changes almost made an immediate impact when Wright was sent through, only to strike his effort against the post.

However, Borough were caught napping and the quality of opposition told as Gainsborough increased their lead to 5-2.

It looked as though they were going to rack up a big score, but the home side had other ideas as Dave Walsh picked the ball up from 20 yards and chipped on to the crossbar, with Fanthorpe the quickest to react to make it 5-3.

James Swann kept Borough in the game with a reaction save from ex-Mariner Michael Leary, following a good move, but the home side were soon rewarded for their persistence.

Walsh found Fanthorpe, who turned his marker and played in Grant for a one on one chance, and the striker made no mistake in lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and into an empty net.

Borough nearly got an equaliser with a powerful header from Kieran Wressell, but his effort was cleared off the line.

It was a great workout for the home side, who continue their preparations for the Northern Counties East League Division One campaign with a trip to Bridlington on Monday.