Grimsby Town 0 Lincoln City 0

Last updated : 28 April 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Honours were even in a hard-fought Lincolnshire derby which kept Lincoln City on course for the play-offs.

It was their third goalless draw in four games, but Grimsby Town's first of the league campaign.

The game which kicked off early in a bid to avoid trouble ended in dramatic fashion.

There were a cordon of police horses and dogs to keep the fans apart and it worked, with the fans eventually dispersing with both sets happy with the outcome.

Defences where generally on top in what was an entertaining match, but with few clear-cut openings.

Former Mariner Jamie Forrester raced through on 45 seconds to lob the ball over the top and that and a Mark Stallard header after six minutes were about as close as it came for Lincoln.

Most of Grimsby's inspiration came from former Lincoln midfielder Ciaran Toner, who peppered the Lincoln goal throughout, mostly from a distance.

But the closest to a goal for Grimsby came six minutes from time. Striker Danny North was played through and his shot was fumbled away for a corner by Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott.

From the flag-kick centre-back Nick Fenton rose well and his header almost sneaked through a mass of green shirts.

But in the dramatic last few minutes with stewards and police forming a ring around the playing perimeter and the horses and dogs being kept at bay, it looked like 0-0 was going to be the most likely outcome.