HAVING a clash with Grimsby Town to aim for has been crucial to Cleethorpes Town's pre-season build-up.
The Owls welcomed their Conference Premier neighbours to Bradley Community Stadium on Wednesday evening for a friendly encounter with the full-timers.
As with 12 months ago, it was a fantastic evening for the Northern Counties East League outfit, as 1,000 supporters packed into the ground to watch the Mariners' 3-1 victory.
And the chance to go up against the professionals was also a big deal for the Clee players – as manager Marcus Newell explained.
"It's massive for us as a club and for the lads to have nights like that," he told the Telegraph.
"When I'm putting pre-season on and trying to get our lads fit, knowing they've got Grimsby Town in two or three weeks times gives them something to train for.
"In the early part of pre-season when the hard yards are not too much fun, having Grimsby Town at the end of it makes it that little bit easier and spurs the boys on."
A Lenell John-Lewis double and an own goal ultimately gave the Mariners the bragging rights, but Jack Debnam's reply for the hosts gave the 'home' supporters plenty to cheer.
"I thought we competed well," Newell continued. "We were always going to set up to play quite deep and obviously not leave too many spaces for them.
"We knew they would control possession, which they did, and we were looking to hit them on the break, which we did pretty well.
"When we changed it up at half-time it took the lads a bit longer to settle than I would have liked, and I didn't think we got about them as much as we could, or should, have done.
"But we were playing against a side from four levels above us, and we competed really well. The game was played in a really good spirit as well which was nice.
"Debo did well. He's direct and when he gets the ball he just heads straight towards the goal. That's something different for us, and his goal really settled us down at a good time."
He added: "We lost 2-0 last year and then 3-1 this time around. We were disappointed to concede three goals but I would have taken that scoreline before the game – and scoring against them is a nice bonus.
"I had a chat with Grimsby's manager Paul Hurst before the game, and congratulated him afterwards.
"He's a nice guy and I wish him well – I hope they do really well this season."
