Goals from Harvey Neary and David Robinson saw Dunston beat Grimsby Borough 2-1 to extend their unbeaten run to 8 matches in all competitions.

Jon McDonald named an unchanged starting XI and bench from Friday’s 1-0 win in the Isuzu FA Trophy game against Hebburn Town.

Dunston started the stronger of the two teams, and within the first five minutes, good work by David Robinson down the right-hand side led to a cross that was met by Wil Shaw, who was unable to make a clean connection.

Minutes later, Dunston’s penalty appeals were waved away after Shaw’s effort deflected off a Grimsby defender. David Robinson almost opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but his shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.

The Fed continued to push for the opener and JJ O’Donnell was denied by an excellent save by Auton in the Grimsby goal to keep the scores level. O’Donnell was then kept out by Auton again minutes later following being sent through on goal by Phil Turnbull.

However, Dunston’s efforts were finally rewarded when Harvey Neary found space in the box, and after the ball deflected into his path, he drilled a low shot into the bottom left corner to put Dunston 1–0 up.

On 42 minutes, Dunston were awarded their third penalty in four games after David Robinson was pulled back in the box. Robinson stepped up and confidently fired his spot-kick into the bottom left corner, beyond the reach of Auton, to give Dunston a 2–0 lead at the break.

The second half began much like the first, with Dunston pressing for a third goal to put the game out of sight. Robinson was denied once again by Auton, before Rory Edwards came close to scoring his first goal for Dunston, only to be thwarted by the Grimsby keeper.

The final fifteen minutes saw the game turn on its head as Grimsby came out of the traps quickly, determined to get back into the contest. They pulled a goal back in the 77th minute when Okeowye Groblachan’s long-range effort found the bottom corner.

Deep into stoppage time, Grimsby were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Sam Topliss stepped up, but his effort was well saved by Lowson, allowing Dunston to hold on for an important three points.

Next up for Dunston is a home game in the Pitching in Northern Premier East against Matlock Town this Saturday.

Dunston: Lowson, H.Neary, McDonald (Chrisp, 46’), Turnbull (F.Neary, 86’), Pearson, Devitt, O’Donnell (Turner, 82’), Edwards (Chrisp, 73’), Djalo (Donaldson, 62’), Robinson, Shaw.

Substitutes: Baxter

Yellow Cards: Pearson, Devitt, Edwards

Goals: H.Neary (32’), Robinson (43’)

Grimsby Borough: Auton, Topliss, Taylor (Burden-Whittleton, 72’), Richardson, Sawyer, Walker, Molyneaux (Wright, 74’), York (Rennardson, 65’), Southwell (Essel, 74’), Venney, Robertson (Groblachan, 60’).

Substitutes: None

Yellow Cards: Richardson

Goals: Groblachan (77’)

Attendance: 275

By Thomas Boyle