Grimsby Borough's FA Vase dream is shattered by St Andrews from Leicester
HOPES of qualifying for the FA Vase are over for Grimsby Borough after they fell to a 1-0 home defeat against St Andrews.
The Wilderness Boys welcomed the Leicester-based side to the Bradley Community Stadium for the first qualifying round clash.
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ON THE BALL: Above and left, action from Grimsby Borough's FA Vase qualifying round game against St Andrews. Inset, Borough bosses Nigel Fanthorpe, right, and Steve Newby.
And the home side began the game brightly. A good move between John Taylor and Rick Creer fed the onrushing George Newby, who could only place his shot just past the far post.
In an otherwise quiet first half, it was undoubtedly the hosts' best chance of the game; the St Andrew's sat back and kept possession throughout the first half.
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Borough forced the pace after the restart and should have gone in front when Matt Hall found Creer free in the area, but he missed the target by firing past the far post.
Gareth Deakins nearly broke the deadlock with a thumping header from a Mark Courtly corner, but the visiting keeper pulled off a spectacular save.
Borough were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes to go when Sean Baker was judged to have handled the ball and he received his second booking of the game.
Sensing an opportunity, St Andrews began to use their possession to stretch Borough and they took the lead with virtually their first attempt at goal.
Borough's back line had been in commanding form throughout the match but, when a cross was swung in, Linnett was left with a free header from ten yards and he made no mistake, finding the corner to give the home keeper no chance.
Borough fought right to the final whistle but could not break down a well-organised St Andrews side that saw the game out to progress to the next round.
Borough joint boss Nigel Fanthorpe, said: "We had four of our main players unavailable– Andy Taylor, Josh Fuller, Lewis Buckthorpe and Luke Fanthorpe.
"But we still put up a good fight, playing some nice football and we defended well."
The Wilderness Boys will be looking to bounce back when they return to league action with a trip to Eccleshill tomorrow night.
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