Grimsby's bid for Division One safety suffered a setback with this narrow home
defeat by Sheffield United.
Peter Ndlovu's 40th-minute header was enough to halt the Blades' run of five
games without a win.
Ndlovu should have had at hat-trick while Steve Livingstone twice went close
for the Mariners.
United had dominated the first half, when they had a string of chances. Paul
Devlin was a constant threat to Grimsby down the right and his 28th-minute cross
saw Bobby Ford head just over the bar.
Grimsby could not keep possession for long periods and relied on isolated
breaks.
One came in the 32nd minute when Stuart Campbell cut in from the left and
fired in a low right-foot shot which went a foot wide of Frank Talia's near
post.
After Ford had volleyed over for United, their domination told and they swept
into a deserved lead.
Ben Doane, making his debut, was allowed to advance unchallenged before
picking out Ndlovu with a cross to the far post, and the striker directing a
firm header past Danny Coyne and in-off the far post.
United should have made it 2-0 two minutes later when Ndlovu got in behind the
Grimsby defence to collect another Doane ball but the striker stumbled as he
shot and his effort was saved by Coyne.
Grimsby stepped up the pace after the break and striker Luke Cornwall brought
a smart save out of Talia with a left-foot shot from a narrow angle.
Then Livingstone cut in from the left and saw his low shot blocked away by the
keeper.
The Blades should have gone 2-0 up in the 62nd minute. Devlin robbed Peter
Handyside out on the left and released Ndlovu, who had only Coyne to beat, but
the front man dragged a left-foot shot just wide of the post.
Livingstone continued to be Grimsby's main hope and when he got a fortunate
ricochet off defender Keith Curle he bent a left foot shot just over the bar.
Then a Kevin Donovan cross was met by the head of the striker with Talia
saving well.
Teams
Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Groves, Willems (Butterfield 56), Pouton (David Smith 78), Campbell, Livingstone, Cornwall (Jeffrey 77), Donovan.
Subs Not Used: Hyldgaard, Clare.
Booked: Pouton.
Sheff Utd: Talia, Murphy, Curle, Morrison, Devlin, Doane, Jagielka, Ford, Ullathorne (Kozluk 85), Asaba (Kelly 90),Ndlovu (Montgomery 87).
Subs Not Used: Tonge, Uhlenbeek.
Booked: Talia.
Goals: Ndlovu 42.
Att: 6,983.
Ref: W Burns (Scarborough).
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