FOR an hour, the Grimsby Town fans who turned up at the Bradley Community Stadium must have thought they were watching a carbon copy of the same clash exactly 12 months ago.
On the same evening last July, the Mariners huffed and puffed their way to a 2-0 victory over Northern Counties East League side Clee Town.
And it was a similar story against the Owls last night, as Town – with a mix of youth and experience – took the best part of 60 minutes to finally spark a flurry of goals that saw them ultimately run out comfortable winners.
Of Town's three summer signings, only Jack Mackreth appeared for the first-half and he started on the right side of a midfield that also included second-year YT Jordan Barnett and Caine Winfarrah on the left.
Mackreth's fellow summer signings – Toto Nsiala and Scott Brown – would have to wait for their Town bows.
But the former Macclesfield man quickly set about endearing himself to his new fans with a dinked cross that almost picked out Lewis Bemrose at the far post with five minutes gone.
Other than that, it was a low-key opening 15 minutes, with the hosts' Johnathan Oglesby skewing well-wide of James McKeown's goal on the stroke of the quarter-hour.
Town almost broke the deadlock in fortuitous circumstances five minutes later, but when Winfarrah's low, driven cross from the left deflected and looped towards the top corner, Brad Beattie produced a fine, one-handed save to claw the ball to safety.
Clee had arguably their best opportunity ten minutes before the break, but after a fine first-touch, Marc Cooper looped his deft lob just wide.
Town fielded a completely new 11 – and formation – for the second half, with Nsiala and Brown both coming on, and young Callum Bastock replacing McKeown in goal.
Clee made a raft of changes themselves and continued to prove stubborn opponents after the restart.
In fact, it took Town until eight minutes shy of the hour mark to finally open the scoring when second-half sub Lenell John-Lewis latched on to a through ball and slid past Beattie.
But just when it looked as though Town were about to take the game away from their lower-league rivals, Clee drew level with Jack Debnam's composed chip over a rooted Bastock.
However, it didn't take long for Town to retake the lead in what was fast becoming a topsy-turvy affair as John-Lewis' drive took a cruel deflection off a Clee defender and flew past Beattie.
Town's third came about thanks to another large slice of good fortune when the ball bounced up and in off a clutch of players after a corner.
No-one was sure who had the final touch and none of Clee's players looked prepared to claim it.
With little over ten minutes to go, Paul Walker, who had looked steady at right-back following his introduction, was sent from the field for an altercation in the corner.
No card was shown, but the referee was insistent, and Town were forced to replace the young defender.
But that flashpoint didn't spoil what had been a useful opening workout for Town, as they prepare for a day beside the seaside against Scarborough Athletic on Saturday.
