In a hard-fought Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group G match, Lincoln City claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over local rivals Grimsby Town.
First Half: A Tactical Battle with No Breakthrough
The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams feeling each other out in the opening stages. Grimsby had the first meaningful chance of the game in the 5th minute, with Justin Obikwu’s header going just wide of the right post after a cross from Jayden Luker. The striker should have done much better, and home fans could feel they deserved to be in the lead.
However, despite several promising moves, neither side could find the breakthrough in the first half.
Lincoln responded with their own attacking pressure, as Bailey Cadamarteri and Jack Moylan came close to breaking the deadlock. Cadamarteri had a particularly dangerous spell, hitting the post in the 27th minute with a scuffed strike from just inside the box. Jack Moylan also saw a couple of efforts miss narrowly, with his right-footed shot from the centre of the box going just wide.
The first half saw a battle for midfield dominance, with both sides winning key duels but failing to capitalise on the few clear chances created. Grimsby had more of the possession, but Lincoln’s counter-attacks, spearheaded by Moylan and Cadamarteri, looked threatening throughout the first 45 minutes.
Second Half: Goals, Substitutions, and Late Drama
The game came to life in the second half, with Grimsby opening the scoring in the 58th minute. Jason Svanthórsson, who had come on as a substitute at half-time, found the back of the net with a close-range right-footed shot, a chance presented after Imps keeper George Wickens had fumbled the ball. This gave the Mariners a deserved 1-0 lead and brought the home crowd to life.
Lincoln, however, refused to sit back and quickly sought to get back into the game. Just eight minutes later, in the 66th minute, Bailey Cadamarteri levelled the score with a header, following a well-delivered set piece. The equaliser shifted the momentum back in Lincoln’s favour, as they began to push Grimsby onto the back foot.
Grimsby had their chances to restore the lead, with George McEachran and Jason Svanthórsson both missing efforts from promising positions. McEachran came particularly close in the 86th minute with a shot from the centre of the box that went just wide of the left post, following good work from Svanthórsson.
As the match approached stoppage time, the game appeared to be heading for a draw. However, in a dramatic twist, Lincoln found the decisive goal in the 94th minute. Jack Moylan, who had been a constant threat all evening, struck a superb right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner, sealing a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Grimsby were left stunned, having led earlier and controlled much of the possession, but Lincoln’s persistence paid off in the end.
Key Moments and Final Thoughts
Grimsby Town will feel they let this one slip through their fingers. Despite having the majority of possession and more touches in the box, they were unable to convert their dominance into goals. Svanthórsson’s opener gave them hope, but their inability to hold onto the lead, combined with Moylan’s late winner for Lincoln, ultimately condemned them to defeat.
Lincoln, on the other hand, showed great resilience and took their chances when it mattered. Bailey Cadamarteri’s equaliser came at a crucial time, shifting the momentum in their favour, and Jack Moylan’s late strike was the match’s defining moment. Although Grimsby outperformed Lincoln in aerial duels and had more possession, Lincoln’s ability to remain clinical when it mattered most was the difference between the two sides.
For Grimsby, their lack of finishing, despite 12 attempts and several promising moves, will be a point of concern moving forward in the competition. Lincoln, however, will be pleased with their ability to stay in the game and fight until the very last minute, which ultimately secured them a crucial three points in Group G.
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