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Harvey impresses as reserves fall short
By Nathan Jackson April 23 2008
Lincoln City's reserves lost 3-2 at home to Grimsby Town. City fielded 11 trailists in the starting line up and Neil Harvey impressed many with a decent performance and a stunning goal. It was a fairly decent game considering the quality that reserve games generally have.

The Imps were represented by 11 trialists in the starting 11. Ashley Morris was in goal, Scott Mason, Danny Smith, Ryan Jennings and Ugo Udoji made up the defence. Tom Griffiths, Jake Moult, Valentino Shielos and Neil Harvey provided the midfield whilst Michael Collins and Ben Fairclough were up front.

Grimsby linked up with Leigh Overton, Grant Normington, Liam Davis, Matty Bird, Craig Parker, Peter Bore, Drew Rhodes, J Steel, Craig Norman, Andy Taylor and Danny North.

City kicked off the match and they won an early free kick when Neil Harvey was sandwiched by two Grimsby defenders, it went straight to the Grimsby goalkeeper. Collins found himself through early in the match following a defensive mistake, his first touch let him down tremendously though and he ended up booting it away from the goal he was shooting towards.

Harvey sent a speculative effort well over the goal front 20odd yards. A corner saw a scramble in the box and Griffiths produced the game's first meaningful shot as he forced Overton into a good save. Grimsby produced a counter attack from this and Andy Taylor sent a header wide.

Morris produced a good save from Taylor following a counter attack. The striker broke through the City defence but Morris was equal to it. Taylor broke through again a few minutes later, but a poor first touch took it straight into the hands of Morris. A great passing move from one end of the pitch to the other saw Fairclough have a great chance of opening the scoring. He found himself unmarked 6 yards out but his effort was well saved by Overton.

Neil Harvey then scored a stunning goal from the right hand side of the box. He hit the ball on the volley and sent it across goal, the ball going in off of the post. Harvey almost set up another chance a few seconds later, this time Griffiths sent the ball high over the bar. Harvey continued an impressive showing by forcing another good save from Overton.

The game turned into a midfield battle with neither side creating any chances for a while. The few times that the Imps did break through, the offside flag caught them out. It wasn't long before Grimsby pulled level through Craig Norman. The Grimsby mans shot was going wide but Morris deflected it into his own net on the half hour.

Shielos sent a chance wide from 20 yards. Fairclough had goal disallowed after Harvey upended Bird. That was the final noteworthy incident of a surprisingly good first half.

Grimsby went in front early in the second half when the defence failed to clear the ball and Peter Bore stuck it home from close range. White came on for Shielos for the Imps. The trialist from Barnsley almost scored with his first touch following a set up from Harvey. Chris Bond came on for the injured Ryan Jennings.

A spill from Morris almost gifted Grimsby a third, butt he header from Norman went wide of the target. Michael Collins drew the Imps level after about 15 or so minutes of the second half. He took his run into the box and past several defenders before slotting past Overton.

The game petered out into a midfield battle. One of the few chances that came in the 10 minutes after the goal saw Morris save from Craig Norman. Norman sent a chance well over the bar from close range. North was then replaced by a random geezer who's name wasn't on the sheets that the Grimsby club secretary had sent.

Collins sent a shot wide. Grimsby regained the lead 6 or 7 minutes from time when Taylor snuck in at the back post and prodded it into the net.

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