AN impressive Grimsby Borough closed the gap on the leading pack with a 1-0 win at the Bradley Community Stadium.
Borough's form has been solid, but inconsistent of late, and they went into the against Hallam game in need of three points to avoid being cut adrift by the early Baris Northern Counties Division One front-runners.
James Harness returned to the Borough side, replacing the injured Leigh Cook in goal, while James Petronzio, Bobby Lewsam, Ex-Grimsby Town midfielder Josh Fuller and Gary Deakins were also included in the team.
Borough started well with Andy Taylor passing to Lewis Buckthorp on the edge of the area, and a good shot produced an outstanding save from the keeper.
A Taylor shot was then saved by the keeper, but the rebound found Lewsam. On his full Borough debut, everyone in the ground thought he had headed into the top corner, but the ball went just wide and the sides went in deadlocked at 0-0 at the break.
Early in the second half, the Wilderness Boys broke the stalemate when the league's top scorer, Taylor, got his eighth goal of the campaign when he slotted home after some good play by Fuller.
Borough thought they should have had a penalty when Taylor was brought down, but the referee deemed that the defender had won the ball.
Borough substitutes Gaughan, Newby and Unsworth replaced Baker, Thompson and Lewsam in the latter stages.
There was some late Hallam pressure, but Borough held firm to bag the three points.
