Manchester City were indebted to Kevin Horlock as they strengthened their
position at the top of the First Division.
Horlock struck two terrific goals, including the match winner in injury time,
to spare City's blushes as they struggled to overcome lowly Grimsby when two
valuable points looked to be slipping from their grasp.
But in their hour of need, up popped Irishman Horlock to save the day on his
return to the side after serving a one-match suspension.
City made a perfect start, taking only five minutes to breach the First
Division's leakiest defence, as Horlock opened the scoring.
A superb through ball from Ian Bishop dissected a Mariners defence enabling
Horlock to run through the middle and fire an unstoppable drive from 25 yards,
low to the right of keeper Danny Coyne.
City might even have taken an earlier lead, when Danny Tiatto, replacing the
injured Mark Kennedy, set up Shaun Goater who fired straight at Coyne.
Goater, City's 14-goal leading marksman, went even closer after seven minutes,
striking the outside of the post with an angled shot from the right side of the
penalty area.
Lee Peacock was desperately unlucky not to double City's lead midway through
the half.
The recent £500,000 signing for Mansfield, who is still searching for his
first goal, saw Coyne make a brilliant save to beat out his fiercely struck
shot.
City, so much in command early on, were suddenly stunned after 27 minutes when
Grimsby equalised.
The goal stemmed from a poorly taken City free-kick, from Richard Edghill as
Jack Lester set up Stacy Coldicott who placed a shot low to the right of Nicky
Weaver from just inside the penalty area.
City had to start all over again, and towards the end of the half, Peacock and
Richard Jobson both had great chances but neither could hit the target.
Joe Royle threw on striker Paul Dickov 10 minutes after the restart and the
substitution almost paid immediate dividends when his cross from the left almost
crept in past Coyne.
The lively Dickov, who has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury,
also saw a well-struck drive from 25 yards dip over the crossbar.
City dominated the later stages with substitute Tony Grant forcing Coyne to
make a fantastic save low to his left, but they were unable to find a way
through the well marshalled Grimsby defence until injury time.
The winner was set up by left-back Danny Granville who crossed from the left
for Horlock to smash home the winner from 14 yards, high to the right of keeper
Coyne who was finally beaten for a second time.
Teams
Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Granville, Wiekens, Jobson,
Tiatto (Dickov 55), Bishop (Crooks 90), Horlock, Pollock,
Goater, Peacock (Grant 78).
Subs Not Used: Whitley, Wright.
Goals: Horlock 5, 90.
Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Livingstone, Lever,
Buckley (Black 46), Coldicott, Groves, Donovan, Ashcroft,
Lester, Black (Allen 90).
Subs Not Used: Butterfield, Croudson, Pouton.
Goals: Coldicott 27.
Att: 32,607
Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).
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