Two-goal Cannon just blows sorry Town away

By Liam Wood

GRIMSBY TOWN 1

Gnahoua 81

GRIMSBY: Cartwright 5, Mullarkey 7, Tharme 6, Rodgers 6, Hume 6 (Gnahoua 61, 7), Thompson 7, Clifton 7, Green 6 (Wood 61, 6), Holohan 6 (Andrews 61, 6), Wilson 6 (Pyke 73, 6), Obikwu 6. Subs not used: Smith, Vernam, Eastwood.

WREXHAM 3

Cannon 5, 36, Mullin 42

WREXHAM: Okonkwo 7, Bolton 7, Cleworth 7, O’Connell 7, Boyle 7, Mendy 7 (McFadzean 49, 6), Cannon 9 (Young 71, 6), O’Connor 7, Lee 6, Palmer 7 (Fletcher 87), Mullin 8 (Marriott 86). Subs not used: Tozer, Dalby, Howard.

Att: 7,728 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ollie Yates 8/10

PHIL Parkinson hailed Wrexham’s approach as they bounced back from defeat at home to Tranmere Rovers by crushing Grimsby Town.

All the damage was done in the first half as Andy Cannon scored twice and Paul Mullin once, with Mariners’ substitute Arthur Gnahoua netting a late consolation after the break.

Victory moved Wrexham three points behind table-topping Mansfield.

Parkinson said: “It was a good win for us in very difficult conditions.

“The wind was always goingg to impact on the game, but our professionalism and game management was very good,od, particularly in the first half.

“It was important for us to show quality and we did that to create those chances and ultimately take them. “After our last game we addressed some things in training and the concentration levels were much better from us and where they needed to be.

“Credit to Grimsby. They are a tough team to play against, but we managed the game well and take three points back with us.”

Wrexham opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Cannon fired low into the corner with his right foot from 20 yards.

Tom O’Connor almost produced a carbon copy moments later, but a second goal did arrive through Cannon with a tidy finish from the former’s pass in the 36th minute.

Mullin grabbed the third in the 42nd minute with a left-footed snap-shot which left Grimsby goalkeeper Harvey Cartright stranded.

With the damage already done, genuine chances were few and far between upon the restart, before Gnahoua made his mark in a late cameo. He cut inside and beat Arthur Okonkwo with a left-footed drive, but that strike was too little too late for Grimsby to launch a comeback.

Town head coach David Artell added: “Wrexham took their goals well, but from our point of view all three were preventable.

“I thought we were slightly below the standards we have set for ourselves over the last six games and that’s why we got punished.

“We have got to make sure we maintain our standards, and that’s the key thing for me because that’s what we can control. After our six-match unbeaten run, we have got to make sure one defeat doesn’t turn into two or three.”