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