GRIMSBY TOWN 0-3 SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Posted on: Tue 21 Jul 2009
Grimsby Town 0-3 Scunthorpe United
Report from Blundell Park
Click here for a live minute-by-minute report
Last season's strike sensations Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper continued their side's red hot pre-season form in front of goal as the Iron beat Grimsby Town 3-0 to make the final of this year's Lincolnshire Senior Cup.
United have played four pre-season matches so far, scoring 22 goals and conceding just one - and they never looked in danger of slipping up against Mike Newell's Mariners at Blundell Park on Monday night.
Hooper struck from close range early in the first half to give the Glanford Park side the lead.
Then, just moments later, Hayes hit an excellent low sidefooted effort which beat Leigh Overton in the Grimsby goal.
The former Barnsley man then scored again in the second half, and it could have been much more for a dangerous Iron side.
After the win, they will face Lincoln City in the final at Sincil Bank a week on Thursday (7.30pm kick-off).
The surprise selection for a match in which manager Nigel Adkins was expected to name as full strength a side as possible was Rory Coleman, who started at left-back.
Joe Murphy was in goal, with Andrew Wright, captain Cliff Byrne, Rob Jones and Rory Coleman forming the defence.
Matt Sparrow, Josh Wright, Grant McCann and Martyn Woolford lined up in midfield, while Hayes partnered Hooper up front.
The visiting team started as they meant to go on and had the best of the early chances, with Hayes having an opportunity cleared off the goal-line by Matthew Bird. Just prior to that, an effort of his had just crept over the crossbar.
Then McCann's thunderous effort was tipped over the bar by Mariners custodian Overton.
It didn't take long for Adkins' charges to take a deserved lead though, as Woolford's cross from the left was headed into the path of Hooper by Byrne, and last season's 30-goal leading marksman added to his three-goal haul at Brigg to nod home.
Then, two minutes later, his partner Hayes struck. The Mariners defence failed to clear their lines under pressure from Hooper, and the forward calmly sent his shot past Overton from 20 yards.
Jones could have made it three, but Peter Bore had to clear off the line, as the away team threatened to run riot.
Hooper then slid an effort past the post as the pressure continued.
McCann then probed forward, played a neat one-two with Hayes, and sent a trademark left-footed curler towards goal. Overton saved smartly, however, as Scunthorpe had the last real chance of the opening half.
Hooper was denied instantly after the break by Overton after he and Hayes linked up well.
Then, at the other end, Murphy had to be quick to react to former Boston man Jamie Clarke's free-kick.
McCann had an speculative free-kick attempt well stopped by Overton a short while after, and Adam Proudlock could have pulled a goal back but his shot crashed back into play off the crossbar.
Sparrow volleyed a Marco Van Basten-esque volley over the crossbar, and McCann tried to catch Overton off his line from 40 yards but his shot drifted wide.
There was a double United change as the two central midfielders were changed - McCann and Josh Wright being replaced by Sam Togwell and Michael O'Connor.
And, just three minutes after those alterations, in the 66th, Hayes made it three. He received O'Connor's free-kick pass and turned his man before casually poking past Overton.
Murphy saved an effort from 20 yards out by Danny North, while Clarke's free-kick soon after cleared the crossbar.
Togwell came close in the closing stages but his shot, after linking up well with Hooper, went over the woodwork from 10 yards.
Byrne could have made it four with a header from Morris' (who had just come on for Woolford) corner, but Bore was there again to clear off the line. Then, in the dying seconds, Hooper hit the post with a diving header.
It wasn't to matter, however, as Scunthorpe celebrated a comfortable win over their near-neighbours.
Report from Blundell Park
Click here for a live minute-by-minute report
Last season's strike sensations Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper continued their side's red hot pre-season form in front of goal as the Iron beat Grimsby Town 3-0 to make the final of this year's Lincolnshire Senior Cup.
United have played four pre-season matches so far, scoring 22 goals and conceding just one - and they never looked in danger of slipping up against Mike Newell's Mariners at Blundell Park on Monday night.
Hooper struck from close range early in the first half to give the Glanford Park side the lead.
Then, just moments later, Hayes hit an excellent low sidefooted effort which beat Leigh Overton in the Grimsby goal.
The former Barnsley man then scored again in the second half, and it could have been much more for a dangerous Iron side.
After the win, they will face Lincoln City in the final at Sincil Bank a week on Thursday (7.30pm kick-off).
The surprise selection for a match in which manager Nigel Adkins was expected to name as full strength a side as possible was Rory Coleman, who started at left-back.
Joe Murphy was in goal, with Andrew Wright, captain Cliff Byrne, Rob Jones and Rory Coleman forming the defence.
Matt Sparrow, Josh Wright, Grant McCann and Martyn Woolford lined up in midfield, while Hayes partnered Hooper up front.
The visiting team started as they meant to go on and had the best of the early chances, with Hayes having an opportunity cleared off the goal-line by Matthew Bird. Just prior to that, an effort of his had just crept over the crossbar.
Then McCann's thunderous effort was tipped over the bar by Mariners custodian Overton.
It didn't take long for Adkins' charges to take a deserved lead though, as Woolford's cross from the left was headed into the path of Hooper by Byrne, and last season's 30-goal leading marksman added to his three-goal haul at Brigg to nod home.
Then, two minutes later, his partner Hayes struck. The Mariners defence failed to clear their lines under pressure from Hooper, and the forward calmly sent his shot past Overton from 20 yards.
Jones could have made it three, but Peter Bore had to clear off the line, as the away team threatened to run riot.
Hooper then slid an effort past the post as the pressure continued.
McCann then probed forward, played a neat one-two with Hayes, and sent a trademark left-footed curler towards goal. Overton saved smartly, however, as Scunthorpe had the last real chance of the opening half.
Hooper was denied instantly after the break by Overton after he and Hayes linked up well.
Then, at the other end, Murphy had to be quick to react to former Boston man Jamie Clarke's free-kick.
McCann had an speculative free-kick attempt well stopped by Overton a short while after, and Adam Proudlock could have pulled a goal back but his shot crashed back into play off the crossbar.
Sparrow volleyed a Marco Van Basten-esque volley over the crossbar, and McCann tried to catch Overton off his line from 40 yards but his shot drifted wide.
There was a double United change as the two central midfielders were changed - McCann and Josh Wright being replaced by Sam Togwell and Michael O'Connor.
And, just three minutes after those alterations, in the 66th, Hayes made it three. He received O'Connor's free-kick pass and turned his man before casually poking past Overton.
Murphy saved an effort from 20 yards out by Danny North, while Clarke's free-kick soon after cleared the crossbar.
Togwell came close in the closing stages but his shot, after linking up well with Hooper, went over the woodwork from 10 yards.
Byrne could have made it four with a header from Morris' (who had just come on for Woolford) corner, but Bore was there again to clear off the line. Then, in the dying seconds, Hooper hit the post with a diving header.
It wasn't to matter, however, as Scunthorpe celebrated a comfortable win over their near-neighbours.
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