Mariners end 2009 with a defeat

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GRIMSBY Town ended the decade on a low after seeing out 2009 with a home defeat tonight that brought to an end their mini-revival and left them embedded in the League Two relegation zone.

A 2-1 home defeat may not look as convincing on paper as Port Vale’s 4-0 thumping of the Mariners back in September, but the two sides were worlds apart in a woeful first-half that put paid to any real hopes of Town ending a miserable year on a high note.

Loan player Sean Rigg (7) and Robert Taylor (41) gave Vale a first-half lead while Barry Conlon pulled one back from the penalty spot in the last minute.

Boss Neil Woods had opted to make two changes to his Town starting line-up for the key League Two encounter at Blundell Park.

In came Conlon up front in place of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, while Olly Lancashire made his return from injury at centre-back. Nicky Featherstone was the player to make way, with Paul Linwood slotting in at left-back and Peter Bore pushed forward into the right-midfield berth.

Featherstone and Akpa Akpro both dropped to the bench where they were joined by midfielder Mark Hudson.

Vale manager Micky Adams also made changes, departing from his tried and tested three-man defence for the first time this season in favour of a 4-4-2 formation.

Full match report, reaction, player stats and match pictures in your Telegraph on Tuesday.