Grimsby earned themselves a closely-fought victory over Forest Green.

It was a quiet first half with no real chances of note and indeed it came as some surprise when the Mariners took the lead.

It was Nathan Pond who beat goalkeeper Sam Russell to Frankie Artus' cross and glanced in the winning goal for the home side.

Matty Taylor fired wide on the break for the visitors, and James Norwood's shot was well saved by James McKeown.

The defeat was Forest Green's first of the Blue Square Bet Premier season, while Grimsby picked up their third victory in four games.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Grimsby Town joint-manager Paul Hurst told BBC Radio Humberside:

Blundell Park

"There was a bit of nervousness flying around the dressing room beforehand because we knew it was going to be a tough test.

"I didn't see either side scoring more than one (goal) the way it was panning out. That said, we've a couple of lads in our team who attack the ball very well.

"At this moment in time, or recently, there have been a lot of situations or scenarios where players might not agree with our decisions but it's playing out. They are valued players and they have to be ready."

Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We just looked as if this was one game too far to go on and rescue.

"I'm really disappointed because I feel we lost it by not defending a free-kick. That's the only way I saw them scoring.

"We had some great chances to bury it, but if you don't take your chances then you don't win games."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Grimsby

  • 13 McKeown
  • 03 Thomas
  • 05 Pearson
  • 19 Wood (Hatton - 36' Booked )
  • 22 Pond Booked
  • 04 Niven Booked
  • 07 Colbeck
  • 08 Disley
  • 11 Artus (Thanoj - 82' )
  • 09 Elding
  • 12 Cook (Southwell - 19' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Hatton
  • 16 Ford
  • 17 Soares
  • 21 Thanoj
  • 20 Southwell

Forest Green

  • 23 Russell
  • 05 Turley
  • 15 Oshodi
  • 16 Asafu-Adjaye
  • 21 Racine Booked
  • 04 Bangura (Rowe - 66' )
  • 11 Forbes
  • 12 Collins
  • 09 Styche (Taylor - 60' )
  • 18 Wright (Koroma - 64' )
  • 20 Norwood

Substitutes

  • 01 Bulman
  • 19 Rowe
  • 07 Koroma
  • 14 Taylor
  • 17 Marsh
Ref: Seb Stockbridge
Att: 3,270

Match Stats

Shots

4 7

On target

3 4

Corners

1 5

Fouls

14 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:04 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:05

James Norwood takes a shot. Save made by James McKeown.

88:54

The ball is swung over by Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Shaun Pearson makes a clearance. James Rowe takes a inswinging corner.

85:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Keiron Forbes by Craig Disley. Keiron Forbes restarts play with the free kick.

84:11

Effort from inside the area by Matty Taylor misses to the left of the goal.

83:36

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Joe Colbeck played to the near post, Keiron Forbes manages to make a clearance.

83:22

Anthony Elding takes a shot. Blocked by Aarran Racine.

81:30 Substitution

Substitution Andi Thanoj is brought on as a substitute for Frankie Artus.

81:30

Matty Taylor produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

80:16

Aswad Thomas produces a cross, clearance by Eddie Oshodi.

79:30

The ball is sent over by Jamie Collins, clearance by Nathan Pond.

79:06

The ball is delivered by Dayle Southwell, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

76:48

Shaun Pearson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matty Taylor. Omar Koroma has an effort direct from the free kick.

75:31

Foul by Matty Taylor on Nathan Pond, free kick awarded. Sam Hatton takes the direct free kick.

74:59

The referee blows for offside against Anthony Elding. Free kick taken by Aarran Racine.

73:46

Unfair challenge on Frankie Artus by Jamie Turley results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James McKeown.

73:28

A cross is delivered by James Norwood, Nathan Pond makes a clearance.

69:16

Sam Hatton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Omar Koroma. The free kick is delivered right-footed by James Rowe from left channel, clearance by Shaun Pearson. Inswinging corner taken by James Rowe from the left by-line played to the near post, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Hatton by Matty Taylor. Free kick taken by James McKeown.

66:07

Anthony Elding takes a shot. Aarran Racine gets a block in. Frankie Artus crosses the ball.

64:48 Substitution

Substitution James Rowe is brought on as a substitute for Alhassan Bangura.

64:48

Jamie Turley produces a cross, Joe Colbeck manages to make a clearance.

64:15

Dayle Southwell crosses the ball, save by Sam Russell.

63:28 Substitution

Substitution Ben Wright goes off and Omar Koroma comes on.

62:36

Assist on the goal came from Frankie Artus.

62:36 Goal scored

Goal - Nathan Pond - Grimsby 1 - 0 Forest Grn Nathan Pond scores a headed goal from close in. Grimsby 1-0 Forest Green.

61:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Collins on Dayle Southwell. Frankie Artus delivers the ball,

59:10 Substitution

Substitution Matty Taylor is brought on as a substitute for Reece Styche.

57:09

Free kick taken by Ben Wright.

57:09 Booking

Booking Derek Niven booked.

57:02

Foul by Derek Niven on Keiron Forbes, free kick awarded.

55:24

Shaun Pearson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Reece Styche. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

54:31

Jamie Turley delivers the ball.

53:36

The official flags Anthony Elding offside. Sam Russell takes the indirect free kick.

51:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Disley on Ed Asafu-Adjaye. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

50:15

Aarran Racine challenges Anthony Elding unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Frankie Artus, save made by Sam Russell.

48:51

Joe Colbeck concedes a free kick for a foul on Ed Asafu-Adjaye. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

46:03

Foul by Eddie Oshodi on Dayle Southwell, free kick awarded. Frankie Artus delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +3:34 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +3:14

Joe Colbeck crosses the ball, Jamie Collins makes a clearance.

45:00 +1:55

Ben Wright delivers the ball, Aarran Racine takes a shot. Save by James McKeown.

45:00 +1:55 Booking

Booking Sam Hatton goes into the referee's book for dissent.

45:00 +1:30

Craig Disley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Reece Styche.

45:00 +0:53

Unfair challenge on Eddie Oshodi by Dayle Southwell results in a free kick. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

44:37

The offside flag is raised against James Norwood. James McKeown takes the indirect free kick.

44:12

Foul by Alhassan Bangura on Derek Niven, free kick awarded. Craig Disley restarts play with the free kick.

43:33

The offside flag is raised against Anthony Elding. Sam Russell restarts play with the free kick.

41:10

The ball is sent over by Dayle Southwell, Eddie Oshodi makes a clearance.

40:08

Foul by Joe Colbeck on Ed Asafu-Adjaye, free kick awarded. Sam Russell takes the free kick.

39:05

Inswinging corner taken by Ben Wright, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Pearson by Eddie Oshodi. Direct free kick taken by James McKeown.

37:43

Shaun Pearson challenges Ben Wright unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Wright has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, James McKeown makes a save.

35:47 Substitution

Substitution Sam Hatton on for Bradley Wood.

33:41

Joe Colbeck sends in a cross, clearance made by Eddie Oshodi.

33:18

Alhassan Bangura challenges Frankie Artus unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Disley takes the direct free kick.

32:50

The ball is delivered by James Norwood, James McKeown makes a save.

31:58

The ball is crossed by Joe Colbeck, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

27:20

Centre by Aswad Thomas, clearance made by Aarran Racine.

23:01

Foul by Ben Wright on Aswad Thomas, free kick awarded. James McKeown takes the direct free kick.

21:25

Unfair challenge on Reece Styche by Shaun Pearson results in a free kick. Ben Wright takes the direct free kick.

20:35

The assistant referee flags for offside against Reece Styche. James McKeown restarts play with the free kick.

18:55 Substitution

Substitution Dayle Southwell is brought on as a substitute for Andy Cook.

15:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Reece Styche on Nathan Pond. James McKeown takes the direct free kick.

13:03

Corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright from the left by-line to the near post, Eddie Oshodi takes a shot. James McKeown makes a save.

8:12

Bradley Wood concedes a free kick for a foul on James Norwood. Ben Wright crosses the ball in from the free kick, save made by James McKeown.

6:27

Direct free kick taken by Ben Wright. Unfair challenge on Craig Disley by Aarran Racine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James McKeown.

6:27 Booking

Booking The referee shows Nathan Pond a yellow card.

6:11

Reece Styche fouled by Nathan Pond, the ref awards a free kick.

4:30 Booking

Booking Aarran Racine is shown a yellow card.

4:03

Bradley Wood sends in a cross, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

2:36

Joe Colbeck produces a cross, Headed effort on goal by Andy Cook from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the goal.

2:02

Ben Wright decides to take a short corner.

1:33

The ball is swung over by Jamie Turley, clearance by Bradley Wood.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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