Grimsby Town 0 Bristol Rovers 0

Last updated : 18 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Grimsby played out their first goalless draw since last December in a poor game against Bristol Rovers at Blundell Park.

Against a strong, physical and well organised Rovers' line up they could not break the visitors down with their best two chances coming in similar fashion during the first half.

Veteran full-back John McDermott got to the byline and pulled a cross back which trickled all along the goal line. It only needed a touch for it to be a goal but nobody could get a boot to it.

Then midfielder, Thomas Pinault pulled back a similar cross but the ball had a bit more speed on it and, again, nobody was on the end of it.

At the other end Richard Walker had two good chances for Rovers. Firstly, he curled a shot just past the far post and then his goal bound effort was touched around the post by Grimsby keeper Anthony Williams, who got down well to save.

But, while the first half had its exciting moments, they were few and far between in the second period as Rovers got on top without seriously carving out any serious chances.

That was at least until stoppage time when former Mariner Jamie Forrester got clear on goal but Williams held on to his shot at the second attempt.

But a winning goal for either side would have been rough justice for it was a match that had a goalless draw written all over it from almost the first whistle.

For Grimbsy it was the second successive home game in which they had dropped two points but, on the positive side, they have only lost once in five matches during which they have conceded just one goal.

Rovers got the 1-0 defeat at Cambridge out of their systems and, with successive home games coming up next week, they can maintain their challenge towards the top of the League Two table.