2023
Saturday, 05 August 2023
Sky Bet League - Division Two
Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,214
Ref: Matthew Corlett
 
Grimsby Town
0 (0) - (0) 0
Wimbledon
12
Jake Eastwood
28
Toby Mullarkey
5
Harvey Rodgers
31
Niall Maher
3
Anthony Driscoll-Glennon
42
Kamil Conteh
Yellow 69m
7
Abo Eisa
15
Harry Clifton
Yellow 58m Subbed 9090
29
Alex Hunt
Subbed 8181
10
Charles Vernam
Subbed 7777
32
Danny Rose
--
1
Harvey Cartwright
6
Luke Waterfall
2
Michee Efete
4
Kieran Green
Sub (29 81m)29-81 Yellow 89m
30
Evan Khouri
9
Rekeil Pyke
Yellow 90m Sub (15 90m)15-90
14
Arthur Gnahoua
Sub (10 77m)10-77

Grimsby and AFC Wimbledon shared the points in their League Two curtain-raiser at Blundell Park.

Mariners goalkeeper Jake Eastwood was the hero as he saved a second-half penalty from Ali Al-Hamadi on debut to earn his side a point.

The Dons' best chances aside from the penalty came in quick succession around the 34th minute as Ryan Johnson won two headers from back-to-back corners.

Despite Grimsby's bright start to the second half, the visitors were gifted a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 59th minute as Harry Clifton brought down Al-Hamadi in the box.

He stepped up to take the penalty, which was saved well by Eastwood down to his left, with a double save made in the end by the Grimsby stopper to deny Al-Hamadi on the follow-up.

Buoyed by the penalty save, the hosts went down the other end a few minutes later with defender Harvey Rodgers having a shot from outside the area saved by the visiting goalkeeper Alex Bass.

Abo Eisa went close to scoring the only goal but his long-range effort was tipped onto a post by Bass.