A late lob from Wayne Burnett earned Grimsby Town a share of the spoils in their tussle with big-spending promotion rivals Fulham at Blundell Park this afternoon.
The midfielder’s first goal of the season – a 88th minute chip over the stranded Maik Taylor after the Fulham goalkeeper had charged off his line to try and punch Dave Smith’s cross to safety – was well timed and come to be crucial in the promotion shake up as the Mariners fought back impressively having been outplayed for much of this match.
For Fulham, these were further points dropped and Ray Wilkins will rue the concession of another late goal as the Whites lost more ground on the automatic promotion places. Fulham should have gone on to win comfortably once Kyle Lightbourne had given the Londoners’ the lead by lashing in a pass from Steve Hayward eleven minutes into the second period but Grimsby goalkeeper Alan Davison denied Lightbourne and substitute Wayne Collins from close range with million-pound centre forward Paul Peschisolido left on the bench.
GRIMSBY TOWN (4-4-2): Davison; Lever (Black 86), Handyside, McDermott, Gallimore (Jobling 56); Burnett, Donovan, Groves, D. Smith; Livingstone, Lester (Clare 75).
GOAL: Burnett (88).
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Lawrence (W. Collins 76), Brevett, Neilson, Coleman; Bracewell, Hayward, N. Smith, Trollope; Moody, Lightbourne. Subs (not used): Brooker, Peschisolido.
GOAL: Lightbourne (56).
REFEREE: George Cain (Bootle)
ATTENDANCE: 6,785
