Football: Childs play for Grimsby

Huddersfield Town 1 Grimsby Town 3

Grimsby yesterday eased their First Division relegation worries with a late two-goal burst against a 10-man Huddersfield. The home side's fading play-off hopes drifted further into the distance after a shoddy display that was not helped by the loss of midfielder Darren Bullock.

Bullock launched himself into two crunching tackles away from the play and there could be no complaints when referee John Brandwood issued him with his first red card for the club.

Grimsby had made a perfect start when Tony Norman fumbled a shot from Gary Childs into the path of Steve Livingstone after seven minutes, but Huddersfield levelled four minutes before the break with a dubious penalty when the referee decided John McDermott had held Ben Thornley, and Ronnie Jepson tucked home the spot kick.

With 20 minutes left, Childs restored Grimsby's lead. A clever one-two with Livingstone resulted in a curling shot which Norman had little hope of reaching. Three minutes later, Paul Groves waltzed through some slack marking to slide in his shot.

Goals: Livingstone (7) 0-1; Jepson (pen 41) 1-1; Childs (70) 1- 2; Groves (73) 1-3.

Huddersfield Town: Norman, Jenkins, Cowan, Bullock, Sinnott, Gray, Edwards, Makel, Ward (Dyson, 66), Jepson (Collins, 81), Thornley. Substitute not used: Baldry.

Grimsby Town: Crichton, McDermott, Croft, Smith, Rodger, Groves, Childs, Shakespeare, Forrester, Livingstone, Southall. Substitutes not used: Woods, Fickling, Laws.

Bookings: Huddersfield: Bullock, Ward, Thornley. Grimsby: Groves, Southall. Sending-off: Huddersfield: Bullock.

Referee: J Brandwood (Lichfield).

Man of the match: Childs.

Attendance: 12,090.