League leaders Grimsby were held to a goalless draw at Cambridge United.

Andy Cook went close to giving the Mariners an early lead when he hit the crossbar before seeing his follow-up shot cleared off the line by Josh Coulson.

Cambridge debutant Matthew Fletcher then saw a close-range shot blocked.

After the break Grimsby substitute Richard Brodie fired against the woodwork and team-mate Marcus Marshall had an effort ruled out for offside.

Grimsby now have a two-point advantage at the top, but second-place Wrexham have a game in hand.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cambridge United manager Richard Money told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"We wanted and needed a response after the last game and I thought they responded really well.

"The first half was a really good performance and the second half was more about the lack of match activity than anything else. Grimsby played on Tuesday - that gave them the edge.

"We have had one game in three weeks. Whilst we've tried to work hard, there's just been a lack of activity on the pitch and it tells.

"But in the main we had good organisation, good shape to the team and were a very good threat."

Grimsby Town joint manager Paul Hurst told BBC Radio Humberside:

Blundell Park

"I think it is a much more improved performance - we forced their keeper into a fair few saves.

"Coming to a team that has lost one in ten, that have been flying up the league, I think we have to put things into perspective sometimes.

"I think all-in-all we defended well, a lot of the shots we had were from distance, and another clean sheet for us and while you're keeping those clean sheets you've got a bigger chance of winning the game."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Cambridge Utd

  • 24 Ross
  • 03 Jennings
  • 04 Coulson
  • 12 McAuley
  • 22 Wassmer
  • 34 Haynes-Brown (Shaw - 86' )
  • 16 Jarvis Booked
  • 09 Gash
  • 15 Pugh
  • 17 Hughes
  • 21 Fletcher (Wellard - 76' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Hedge
  • 25 Hudson
  • 26 Brighton
  • 06 Shaw
  • 08 Wellard

Grimsby Town

  • 13 McKeown
  • 02 Hatton
  • 03 Thomas
  • 05 Pearson
  • 06 Miller Booked
  • 04 Niven
  • 08 Disley
  • 15 Devitt (Colbeck - 75' )
  • 26 Marshall
  • 12 Cook (Brodie - 26' )
  • 25 Hannah

Substitutes

  • 16 Ford
  • 07 Colbeck
  • 19 Wood
  • 21 Thanoj
  • 14 Brodie
Ref: Huxtable
Att: 2,764

Match Stats

Shots

12 14

On target

5 6

Corners

5 7

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:59 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:36

The ball is crossed by Joe Colbeck, save by Craig Ross.

90:00 +0:26

Richard Brodie concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Coulson. Craig Ross restarts play with the free kick.

89:25

The ball is sent over by Aswad Thomas.

88:51

Ricky Wellard takes a shot. Save by James McKeown.

85:42 Substitution

Substitution Tom Shaw joins the action as a substitute, replacing Curtis Haynes-Brown.

85:23

Shaun Pearson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

84:40

Josh Coulson challenges Richard Brodie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Sam Hatton.

82:26

Rory McAuley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ross Hannah. Free kick taken by Richard Brodie. Richard Brodie takes a shot. Blocked by Rossi Jarvis.

78:43

The ball is delivered by Charlie Wassmer, Ian Miller makes a clearance. Shot from just outside the area by Rossi Jarvis misses to the right of the target.

78:11

Craig Disley takes a shot. Save by Craig Ross.

75:39 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Fletcher leaves the field to be replaced by Ricky Wellard.

74:21 Substitution

Substitution Joe Colbeck joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Devitt.

73:06

Centre by Aswad Thomas, clearance made by James Jennings. Corner taken right-footed by Marcus Marshall, clearance by Rossi Jarvis.

72:24

Marcus Marshall concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Gash. James Jennings takes the direct free kick.

71:46

Jamie Devitt has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

68:24

Corner from right by-line taken by Marcus Marshall.

67:40

The ball is swung over by Aswad Thomas, Josh Coulson manages to make a clearance.

66:45

Liam Hughes has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.

64:47

A cross is delivered by Craig Disley, clearance by Josh Coulson. Matthew Fletcher fouled by Ian Miller, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Ross takes the free kick.

63:32

Long range effort by Liam Hughes goes wide right of the net.

63:07

Shaun Pearson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Fletcher. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Wassmer.

62:11

Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Devitt to the near post, clearance made by Charlie Wassmer.

61:26

Curtis Haynes-Brown takes a shot. James McKeown makes a save.

59:59

Liam Hughes takes a shot. Blocked by Ian Miller. Matthew Fletcher concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Miller. Free kick taken by James McKeown.

59:37

The assistant referee signals for offside against Richard Brodie. Craig Ross takes the indirect free kick.

58:40

Marcus Marshall takes a shot.

57:32

Jamie Devitt takes the direct free kick.

57:32 Booking

Booking Booking for Rossi Jarvis.

57:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Rossi Jarvis.

56:57

A cross is delivered by Marcus Marshall, Rory McAuley manages to make a clearance.

53:44

A cross is delivered by Richard Brodie.

53:00

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Devitt to the near post, clearance made by Charlie Wassmer.

51:37

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis, Marcus Marshall makes a clearance.

50:44

Free kick taken by Rossi Jarvis.

50:44 Booking

Booking Ian Miller is shown a yellow card.

49:56

Matthew Fletcher takes a shot. James McKeown makes a save. Michael Gash fouled by Ian Miller, the ref awards a free kick.

47:34

The assistant referee flags for offside against Matthew Fletcher. Craig Disley takes the indirect free kick.

45:20

Unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Andy Pugh results in a free kick. James McKeown takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:38 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:59

Marcus Marshall takes a shot. Josh Coulson gets a block in.

44:43

Unfair challenge on Curtis Haynes-Brown by Marcus Marshall results in a free kick. James Jennings takes the free kick.

43:01

Matthew Fletcher is caught offside. James McKeown takes the free kick.

41:50

Marcus Marshall concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Hughes. Free kick taken by James Jennings.

41:14

The referee blows for offside. Sam Hatton restarts play with the free kick.

39:13

Centre by Jamie Devitt, clearance by Josh Coulson. Unfair challenge on Rossi Jarvis by Derek Niven results in a free kick. Craig Ross takes the direct free kick.

37:29

The official flags Curtis Haynes-Brown offside. James McKeown restarts play with the free kick.

36:37

Michael Gash gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Hatton. James McKeown takes the direct free kick.

34:48

Curtis Haynes-Brown produces a cross, clearance by Aswad Thomas. Matthew Fletcher takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Pearson. Liam Hughes has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

34:31

James Jennings sends in a cross, clearance made by Aswad Thomas.

33:44

Foul by Richard Brodie on Rory McAuley, free kick awarded. Craig Ross restarts play with the free kick.

33:19

Rory McAuley takes a shot. Shaun Pearson gets a block in.

32:42

Craig Disley challenges Curtis Haynes-Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. James Jennings restarts play with the free kick.

30:10

The ball is sent over by Andy Pugh.

29:10

Andy Pugh delivers the ball.

28:19

The referee blows for offside against Matthew Fletcher. James McKeown takes the indirect free kick.

26:23

Sam Hatton takes a shot. Craig Ross makes a save.

25:28 Substitution

Substitution Richard Brodie comes on in place of Andy Cook.

24:05

Outswinging corner taken by Marcus Marshall from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Andy Pugh.

22:51

Michael Gash is flagged offside by the assistant referee. James McKeown takes the indirect free kick.

20:47

Corner taken by Rossi Jarvis from the right by-line, Shaun Pearson makes a clearance.

19:16

Jamie Devitt produces a cross, Rory McAuley makes a clearance. Shot from outside the penalty box by Craig Disley goes wide right of the goal. Curtis Haynes-Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcus Marshall. Direct free kick taken by Sam Hatton.

18:20

Corner taken by Rossi Jarvis from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Craig Disley.

14:46

Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Save by Craig Ross. Charlie Wassmer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Devitt. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Sam Hatton.

13:45

Curtis Haynes-Brown crosses the ball, James McKeown makes a save.

13:12

The ball is crossed by Craig Disley, save by Craig Ross.

10:17

The ball is delivered by Marcus Marshall, clearance made by Charlie Wassmer. Jamie Devitt takes the inswinging corner, Marcus Marshall crosses the ball, Josh Coulson manages to make a clearance.

9:29

Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Josh Coulson gets a block in.

5:26

Andy Cook has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the left of the goal. Andy Cook takes a shot. Josh Coulson makes a clearance. Jamie Devitt takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Josh Coulson makes a clearance.

4:34

Shot from outside the box by Rossi Jarvis misses to the left of the goal.

1:11

The ball is sent over by Craig Ross. Corner taken by Rossi Jarvis from the left by-line played to the near post. Rossi Jarvis takes a outswinging corner. Close range effort by Matthew Fletcher misses to the left of the target.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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