Football: Ashcroft's brace foils Norwich

Grimsby Town 2 Norwich City 1

LEE ASHCROFT scored his third and fourth goals of the week as he led Grimsby to victory against Norwich yesterday.

The Mariners' record signing from Preston equalised from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after Darren Kenton had put Norwich into an 11th- minute lead. He then made it nine goals for the season by scoring the winner. Kenton headed the opener from a Darren Eadie corner, but then fouled the Norwich winger Kevin Donovan as he burst into the area. Ashcroft converted his fifth penalty of the season. On the hour Jack Lester, Grimsby's striker, saw his shot blocked by Norwich's Andy Marshall and Ashcroft tucked the rebound away.

Goals: Kenton (11) 0-1; Ashcroft (pen 25) 1-1; Ashcroft (60) 2-1.

Grimsby Town: Coyne, Butterfield, Gallimore, Lever, Smith, Donovan, Hamilton, Coldicott, Buckley (Black, 83), Ashcroft, Lester. Substitutes not used: Croudson (gk), Burnett, Livingstone, Allen.

Norwich City: Marshall, Sutch, Fleming, Jackson, Kenton (Mackay, h-t), De Blasiis, Russell, Milligan, Forbes (Dalglish, 64), Roberts, Eadie. Substitutes not used: Green (gk), Carey, Llewellyn.

Bookings: Grimsby: Lever, Coldicott, Lester. Norwich: Roberts.

Referee: G Laws (Whitley Bay).

Man of the match: Ashcroft.

Attendance: 5,333.