Grimsby Borough welcomed Boston Town to the Bradley FDC for a fixture organised by the home club specifically to raise both money and awareness for The Pink Rose Suite. As reported on by The Grimsby Telegraph, Non-league magazines, papers and websites whilst also having a huge amount of social media coverage, Grimsby Borough have made a fantastic effort to create a fundraiser for the charity. With the success from the day the club can be proud of their efforts and will look to continue with the day for seasons to come.

Down to football and Baz and Andy named a 17 man squad with some regular faces missing. Briggs, Hanslip, Petronzio, Emson, Farr, and Fanthorpe all missing the fixture. To adapt, the management went with an unfamiliar 4-4-2, Drury occupying the no.1 spot with his brother Adam, Cooper, Standley who was called up from the reserves and Danny Grant making up the back 4. Ashton, Flint, Mitchell and Peers made up a narrow midfield behind Jack Debnam in the hole with Gaz Flint asked to be a nuisance against their back 4.
In a very tight first half chances were rare. The opening 20 minutes saw Adam Drury’s pull back flash agonisingly across the face of goal after some neat build up play involving Ashton and Flint. At the other end a diagonal ball dropped just over Cooper’s head at centre half for Boro’ allowing the Boston centre forward to take a touch and bare down on goal. However he was stopped by an excellent recovery tackle from a combination of Adam Drury and Cooper.

Grimsby Borough, dropped into their more familiar 4-3-3 and it immediately had a positive effect as they looked most threatening down the right. Indeed this was to be the combination which almost broke the deadlock on 25 minutes. Some neat work from Peers, Drury, Ashton and Jason Flint saw the final ball frustratingly just too long. The warning signs were there for Boston but they were powerless to stop the next Boro’ attack. Again some brilliant link up play between Mitchell and both Flints saw Ashton through on goal with a slight angle. Instead of risking a shot he superbly back healed to find Peers who made no mistake from the middle of the goal, a well taken finish appreciated by the strong supporting crowd.

Boston reacted well and began to enjoy large spells of possession for the remainder of the half but Boro’ saw out the half and took the 1-0 lead into the break.

The sun beamed down on Bradley however there was a slight breeze in the air, Boro began the second half kicking into the breeze. This seemed to allow the away team to get on top and they enjoyed lots of possession high up the pitch with substitute Clare linking up with Trott. The game was set up for Boro to counter attack, and they showed the first signs of this on 50 minutes. Ollie Hamilton got in behind the left back and smashed the ball goalwards, the keeper stood up well to block.

Trott was proving to be a handful up top, and he was dragged down, slightly to the right 25 yards from goal on the hour mark. Clare stepped up and curled a free kick over the ball into the bottom corner. Scott Drury managed to just get enough on it to deflect it on to the post. The rebound fell invitingly for a Boston player, but Drury again managed to block the rebound with his leg.

Grimsby Borough adapted their game from the first half producing earlier balls forward. Lobendam was winning his fair share of headers and Boro squandered some half chances, Grant, Peers and Adam Drury all getting in good positions. With 15 minutes to go Boston a free kick deep in Boro’s half on the left hand side. The free kick was played short and Wood played in a good cross that was met by Trott and the ball travelled towards the top corner to bring the scores level 1-1.

Grimsby Borough responded well and again got in down the right with Ollie Hamilton linking up with Mitchell and Drury allowing him to get in behind the full back. Hamilton unleashed a thunderbolt that crashed against the cross bar and bounced safely out of danger. Just past the 80 minute mark Lewis Grant won a free kick around 30 yards out just to the right of the Boston goal. He whipped an excellent shot around the wall but the keeper again denied Boro a match winner.

The biggest round of applause came with 5 minutes to go. Grimsby Borough brought on Jamie Barrett who is at the centre of the fundraising for the “Pink Rose Suite” at Grimsby Hospital. Jamie tragically lost his wife to cancer earlier in the year and is brother to co-manager Dan Barrett so the day was used to support Jamie’s wishes to raise money for the hospital ward that cared for Leanne during her illness.

Unfortunately there wasn’t to be a fairy-tale moment for Jamie and Boston almost put a dampener on the occasion with a glorious chance to win the game in the last minute. Through one on one with Drury the Boston striker got himself on to his favourite left foot and took aim. Drury closed and spread himself in front of the striker who looked to lift it over him, the Boro keeper just managed to keep his hands high enough to prevent the dink evading him and giving Boston the win, Cooper was on hand to clear the rebound.

The game finished 1-1 and Grimsby Borough can be pleased to have stretched their opponents who play in a league above. Plenty of positives both on and off the pitch. Adam Drury was selected by Jamie Barrett to be the games Man of the Match.