The Rovers U18s visited bottom club Grimsby Town and came away with a well merited victory by virtue of a superbly taken goal from Jake McCormick and a fine strike from Sam McMahon, with both goals coming in the first half.

A freezing cold morning didn't stop the Rovers dominating the first half right from the start of the game. Two corners in the first three minutes didn't produce anything but a free kick two minutes later was headed over the bar by Lucas. After this the Grimsby lads steadied their ship keeping play in midfield for the most part of the next fifteen minutes before Wakefield headed a corner kick wide of the far post. The breakthrough that had been threatening came in the 24^th minute when a Rovers attack finished with the ball reaching McCORMICK just outside of the penalty area. It bounced in front of him but his reaction was to leap a couple of feet off the ground and strike it sweetly past an astonished goalkeeper. This brought exuberant celebrations from his team-mates as they realised the skill and technique needed to produce such a stunning goal. Despite their superiority in the possession stakes the Rovers couldn't add to their score until the 41^st minute when McMAHON took advantage of some slack play on the left side of the Grimsby defence, took the ball on and hit an angled shot from 15 yards across the keeper into the far corner of the net. The home team at last tried to hit back in the remaining minutes before the break and forced a couple of corners which were comfortably dealt with by the Rovers defence.

The home team made a better fist of it in the second half although the Rovers started as they had in the first half when Mullen drilled a shot wide of a post. However, in the 49^th minute Grimsby forced a corner that was headed wide at the far post. Minutes later Mullen again put wide following a free kick from Finnegan on the Rovers left. Then, in the 63^rd minute Mullen hit a half volley from about thirty yards out that the Grimsby keeper brilliantly tipped over the bar. The corner was put out for another but this was cleared. Minutes later McMahon had a go from distance but put it high and wide. In the 72^nd minute a corner for the home team brought a header on goal that Maxted, who had been a virtual spectator up to this point, blocked with his legs. Both teams rang the changes in the last twenty minutes, with Grimsby getting more into the game but unable to find a way through the Rovers defence. But then, neither could the Rovers add to their tally despite their majority of possession but they ran out comfortable winners at the final whistle.

Rovers team - Jon Maxted; Nathan Davison, Evan Finnigan, Jake McCormick, Liam Wakefield, Brett Lucas, Paddy Mullen, Joshua Meade, Jordan Ball, Sam McMahon, Harry Middleton

Subs used - Alex Peterson for McMahon 70 mins; Chris Whincop for Ball 82 mins; Jordan Binns for Davison 85 mins;

Subs not used - Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Busby gk