Subject to 2 players being injury free from 11 x 11 matches saturday, Grimsby will announce an unnamed squad (+ Paul Goodhand) vs. Middlesborough this Sunday.   Posted Friday.

As anyone running a team knows, what you announce on Friday is not what you get might get come Sunday.  Kirk Russell and Paul Goodhand pulled out with injuries sustained in Saturday matches, Peter Herriman had a Sunday 11 v 11 Final, and Matt Horner had to work!  Add to that list Danny Durrosimo protecting a long term injury and some futsal ability was missing off the GFL bench.

That said we had still quality on the bench and an air of confidence that we could get a result against table toppers Middlesborough, it was not to be but what a game.

For the first time we had a late game which meant we arrived early with time to relax and watch a game.

Within 5 minutes we was 0-3.  We had relaxed and not woken up! A disaster, 'boro was all over us, they looked a top team, we were outclassed.  Leigh Graves could not be faulted on any of the goals they were all tap ins after they had breached our 'defence.'

A 'time out' halted the rot.  Having fumed and insulted each other we got back into the match.  A converted penalty made it 3-1 and just before half time GFL was denied by post and bar.  Game on.

At half time we knew that the team had got itself back in the game and 'boro had a fight on.  3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4 and then a disaster; GFL conceded a 6th foul in the half which gave 'boro a free shot from 10 meters, 6-4.  The clock and the foul count was against Grimsby, defence had to go if we were to score 2 in the limited time left.  As so often happens the team pushing concedes.

Minus the first and last 5 minutes, the performance in the middle 30 minutes was superb, chasing a 3 goal deficit against the leagues top team takes some doing, GFL came so close turning defeat into victory.

No disrespect to the younger players in our team, their day will come, but this was not the game for a batism of fire, had we had our full squad of experienced players, like the opposition, I am sure the result would have been reversed.  It was not the case, we had what we had, and by giving everyone equal match time those younger players have added to their experience.

Man of the match was a toss up between Mathew Payne and Luke McLlennan, both lifted their games the longer the match went on.

A loss, but with plenty of bonuses to take from the game.

The match from a 'boro perspective:

FA match stats:

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=788544